Nearly 10 million fines were slapped on motorists in London last year, prompting claims that local councils and Transport for London use them as “money-making exercises”.
New figures reveal that a record 9,462,185 penalties were issued to commuters who failed to adhere to parking, bus and traffic regulations in the past financial year.
The total number of penalty charge notices (PCNs) handed out by the capital's 32 boroughs, the City of London and TfL has increased by about 13.5 per cent since last year and 70 per cent since 2010.
Last week, it was revealed that motorists are paying £1 billion a year in road charges and fines incurred while driving in the city, with Westminster the biggest earner, declaring a net income of £90.6 million from £129.4 million of revenue.
Transport for London generates hundreds of millions a year from road levies such as the congestion charge, Ultra Low Emission Zone (Ulez) and the new Blackwall and Silvertown tunnel tolls.
But Edmund King, president of the AA, told The Times: “While there is a need to protect parking spaces and bus lanes from drivers who break rules and make life difficult for other road users, London enforcement that used to be for deterrence is now a money-making exercise for TfL and London councils.”
Earlier this year, higher-level driving charges increased for the first time in a decade by £30 to £160, although motorists typically receive a 50 per cent discount if a PCN is paid within two weeks.
The hikes were approved by London mayor Sir Sadiq Khan, despite the Federation of Small Businesses arguing that "small firms can ill afford these extra costs".
Data from London Councils, the collective of local government in Greater London, showed that the number of appeals by drivers increased by 5,742 to 47,935 in the year to March.
However, the success rate of appeals fell by a tenth from 54.9 per cent in 2023/24 to 49.4 per cent in 2024/25.
Mr King added: “Sadly, too many drivers, who are certain they did nothing wrong or the road and sign layout was in effect a trap, paid the half-rate within 14 days instead of contesting the PCN. Such is the fear of having to pay fines that are more than a day’s wages and often don’t fit the nature of the offence, such as being one wheel over the line.”
A London Councils spokesman said: “London boroughs and TfL only issue PCNs when they believe they have evidence that a breach of parking or moving traffic rules has occurred.
“All PCN income goes towards paying for the provision of essential traffic and parking services, with any surplus funding ringfenced to invest in other important transport projects and services such as the Freedom Pass concessionary travel scheme for older and disabled Londoners.
They added: “Enforcement of the rules of the road leads to positive behaviour change among road users, helping to make the capital’s streets safer for all Londoners and its visitors.
“It also plays a critical role in reducing congestion and air pollution in certain areas, and particularly on school streets.”
