Thousands of drivers across London have been paying invalid fixed penalty notices (FPNs) due to the use of enforcement and restriction cameras that lack updated certification, the Automobile Association (AA) has warned. Recent reports from London Tribunals’ traffic adjudicators reveal that at least six councils have issued these FPNs, with enforcement systems failing to meet the required standards. The AA raised concerns about the large number of drivers who were wrongly penalized, particularly those who appealed the fines but did not have them canceled after their first complaint. This issue came to light after investigations found that some of London’s busiest boroughs, including Lambeth, Croydon, Harrow, Redbridge, Greenwich, and the City of London, had issued fines based on enforcement systems that could not be validated. According to the AA, this is just the beginning, as they believe there may be a much larger number of cases that have not yet been brought to light. The problems stem from a failure to maintain up-to-date Traffic Management Orders (TMOs), which are critical for ensuring that road restrictions and penalties are correctly enforced.
In response to these findings, the Department for Transport (DfT) indicated that a revamp of TMOs, which regulate local road restrictions, is now being proposed. However, many drivers and motoring organizations, including the AA, have called for a more immediate review of how councils issue fines. The AA’s Luke Bosdet criticized the situation, calling it “outrageous” for councils to continue issuing fines for expired or invalid restrictions. He emphasized that the lack of accountability for councils’ enforcement practices needs urgent attention, particularly as they appear to be continuing the practice of issuing fines for expired or unenforceable restrictions. The AA’s analysis of London Councils statistics revealed that a significant percentage of appeals against bus lane penalties and moving traffic offences were successful, with 56% of bus lane penalties being either upheld or not contested. For moving traffic violations such as stopping in a yellow box, 35% of appeals were successful. This highlights the fact that many fines issued were ultimately found to be invalid. However, hundreds of drivers who had already paid their fines early to receive a discount were still left out of pocket despite the penalties being ruled invalid.
A particularly significant example of this flawed enforcement system is found in Rotherhithe, where nearly 4,500 FPNs were issued last year for motorists entering a bus lane that did not have the proper TMO in place. These fines amounted to over half a million pounds, and despite the adjudicators canceling these penalties, many drivers had already paid. The AA argues that this is an example of how widespread and systematic the problem is, with many other cases likely going unnoticed.
As the Department for Transport works on proposals to modernize the system for issuing and updating TMOs, there is a growing sense of frustration from drivers and motoring organizations who feel that the current system is unfairly penalizing them. While local authorities, such as London Councils, encourage drivers who have received invalid FPNs to report them and appeal against any rejections, the AA is calling for more immediate reforms to ensure that road traffic enforcement is both fair and efficient. Without changes, the AA fears that motorists will continue to face financial penalties for invalid offences, leading to unnecessary strain on the public and further erosion of trust in local enforcement practices. The ongoing issue has prompted calls for a complete overhaul of the road enforcement system to prevent innocent drivers from being unfairly penalized. With the government signaling that changes may be on the way, it is hoped that future enforcement will be more transparent, accountable, and fair to all road users.
