Drivers warned as UK city introduces new low emission zone including £60 fines

30 May 2023 , 12:18

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Automatic Number Plate Recognition (ANPR) cameras will also be in place, monitoring the roads and will issue £60 fines (Image: Getty Images/iStockphoto)

A previous headline of this article reported that all petrol and vehicles were 'banned' from the city. In fact, the new LEZ scheme may see drivers of older petrol and diesel vehicles being fined, but this does not apply to all vehicles. We are happy to clarify this.

Drivers are being warned that Scotland's first Low Emission Zone (LEZ) is coming into force this week.

There are already LEZ schemes in English cities, including notably London, but in those areas drivers of old petrol and diesel vehicles can still pay to enter.

The scheme starting on Thursday in Glasgow city centre is different - drivers of non-compliant vehicles face fines if they enter the zone at all.

Automatic Number Plate Recognition cameras will detect these vehicles and a Penalty Charge Notice will be issued to the registered keeper.

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There has been huge opposition to the plan in Glasgow. On Saturday, anti-LEZ protesters gathered at the Botanic Gardens in the city’s West End. Pictured is a protest in Glasgow's George Square in 2018 (LightRocket via Getty Images)

The first fine will be £60 but that will double each time a driver breaks the rules - with a cap of £480 for cars and £960 for HGVs and buses.

Only one fine per day will be issued for drivers, no matter how many times they leave or enter the zone. Any fines that are paid within two weeks will be halved.

It is estimated that around a fifth of vehicles in Scotland do not meet the emissions standards and as such risk a fine for driving into Glasgow city centre.

There are concerns that a number of taxis around the city could plummet as a result of the LEZ because some of them have not yet applied for an exemption.

The LEZ policy was introduced in 2018, with a grace period of one year, which ends on June 1 (LightRocket via Getty Images)

On Saturday, anti-LEZ protesters gathered at the Botanic Gardens in the city’s West End and marched towards the steps at Buchanan Galleries.

Data from carwow suggests that people will be looking to replace their older, polluting vehicles with newer models, or electric vehicles.

Three other Scottish cities - Aberdeen, Dundee and Edinburgh - also have plans to introduce LEZ schemes of their own in 2024.

Anyone who is unsure of their vehicle's status can check the Government's website or online vehicle checker at lowemissionzones.scot.

Milica Cosic