Fall in fines for C-charge dodgers after paying is made easier

The number of drivers fined for dodging the congestion charge has fallen significantly.

Figures show that almost 1,000 fewer motorists are being fined each day following moves by Transport for London to make paying the charge easier.

In the second half of last year, around 6,500 people a day were being fined £120 after failing to pay the £8 charge.

That rate has now dropped to 5,600 per day, despite the zone being extended into parts of west London in February last year. The number of people fined each day when the scheme was launched in February 2003 was around 8,500, making a significant contribution to the Mayor's income.

TfL has also revealed the biggest-ever drop in the number of fines issued to motorists for stopping illegally on red routes.

The number hit with a £120 penalty for stopping in these zones fell from 70,328 in June last year to 56,342 in June this year.

The decreases, which have been widely welcomed by motoring organisations, come just weeks after TfL pledged more "fairness" towards motorists.

Graeme Craig, its new director of congestion charging and traffic enforcement, said he was rethinking major aspects of the organisation's enforcement strategy and that immediate changes were expected. Mr Craig added: "We have got to change our attitude."

A TfL spokeswoman said: "Around 5,600 penalty charge notices are issued each charging day for non-payment of the congestion charge compared with the 150,000 motorists who pay the charge each day.

"This figure is despite the near doubling in size of the charging zone in February 2007 with the introduction of the western extension. The figures demonstrate the continuing high levels of compliancy with the congestion charge among motorists and TfL's commitment to making the scheme fair and easy to understand.

"For example, the introduction of the pay-next-day facility in June 2006 saw penalties reduced by some 15 per cent.

"TfL is looking at a number of ways to make payment of the congestion charge easier. This includes investigating the possibility of introducing accounts."