Did you know stopping on a red route is one of the most common reasons TLF issues a penalty charge notice to drivers in London? A Penalty Charge Notice (PCN) is a legal document that tells you that the TFL has fined you for a traffic penalty. The penalty can be about moving or stopping traffic regulations, loading, parking contraventions, etc.
So, you’ll have a deadline to pay and challenge the fine according to the misconduct. However, if you wish to avoid getting fined over traffic violations altogether, you’ve come to the right place. Here are some critical traffic and parking penalties in London you should know:
ULEZ (Ultra Low Emissions Zone) Charge
The LEZ charge was introduced to encourage diesel vehicle drivers to switch to eco-friendly vehicles. So, if you want to drive within the LEZ without paying the penalty charges, your PCO car must not weigh more than 3.5 tonnes and meet the Euro IV emission standards. However, if your vehicle doesn't meet this requirement, you may have to pay £100 to £200, depending on your vehicle classification.
The Low Emission Zone covers a large area of Greater London and is active 24 hours a day and 365 days a year. So, if you're within that zone with a traditional diesel-based vehicle that does not meet the LEZ emission standards, you'll be charged from midnight to midnight. You'll be fined for each day you drive within the LEZ zone. However, there are discounts on this charge. You may only pay fifty percent of the penalty charge within 14 days.
Most electric vehicles can avoid this charge and drive freely all over London. If you don't wish to pay this penalty, rent an electric PCO car today.
Congestion Charges In Central London
If you’re driving a traditional petrol vehicle in Central London in a congestion charge zone, you’ll need to pay the fine by midnight on the following charging day. Otherwise, you'll receive a penalty charge. The congestion penalty charge increases the longer you avoid paying it. So, we recommend that you should pay for it as soon as it’s possible.
You should not be within the congestion zone between 7 am and 6 pm Monday through Friday. Otherwise, you’ll have to submit a fine. However, you can be in that area during public holidays, December 25th and January 1st, because congestion charges don't apply on these days. You can also avoid congestion charges if you drive an electric vehicle.
Loading And Unloading Goods
This is one of the most common PCNs issued to private hire drivers in London. Loading and unloading are defined as the ‘continuous movement of goods to and from a premise.’ The process includes all the activities associated with transporting the goods to the delivery address and any documentation process like getting the customer’s signature.
Once you have delivered all the packages to the recipient’s doorstep and received the signature from the recipient, you must move the vehicle immediately, even if you still have time to stay in that area according to the time limit. The time for loading and unloading goods across London varies between twenty and forty minutes. On red routes, you'll be allowed up to twenty minutes.
However, always check the signs before you enter red or yellow lanes. The TFL will issue you a PCN if you're stalling in the red and yellow lanes after unloading your deliveries.
Here are some of the red lane signs you should know:
- Red route clearways: Only stop in designated bays.
- Loading bays: Check for signs of restrictions.
- Double red lines: No stopping at any time.
- Single red line: No stopping on the day or times as shown on the sign.
- Double yellow lines: Loading is not allowed at any time.
- Single yellow line on the kerb: Loading is allowed only at certain times.
So, if you wish to avoid this penalty, adhere to the traffic rules as stated above.
Get An Electric PCO Car For Rent In London
Are you looking to avoid ULEZ and congestion charges as a PCO driver in London? Rent an electric PCO car with G&M Direct Hire now. They provide the latest PCO cars for hire, like Nissan Leaf, MG5 Exclusive, Mustang Mach E, Toyota Prius Plus, Kia E-Niro, Kia E Niro 2, Volkswagen ID3, and many more.
Visit their website today to check out their fleet. You can also contact them to inquire about their PCO cars for rent and the vehicle rental process at any time.
