Glasgow's Low Emission Zone makes £1m in fines

Glasgow City Council made more than £1m from its city centre Low Emission Zone (LEZ) in just over 10 months, according to newly-released figures.

The LEZ began on 1 June last year and by 13 April the council had received £1,010,585 in penalty charge payments from people driving non-compliant vehicles into the restricted zone.

The council said that profits - after deducting the cost of running the LEZ - would be reinvested in local net-zero and clean air projects.

So far, £250,000 has been identified to be spent on "urban greening" projects and a further £250,000 on "local community climate action projects," according to the council.

No formal decision has been made yet as to what these projects could be, as the council says the LEZ's full earnings will not be clear until after June.

A council spokesperson said: "A more defined picture of the revenue available for projects will only become known following an assessment of operating costs after the LEZ scheme’s first full year of operation.

An "evaluation process" will then take place to decide what projects can be funded after operating costs have been determined and deducted from LEZ revenue.

Low Emission Zones aim to cut emissions and pollution in city centres by stopping some vehicles from entering.

This typically means the zone will only have an impact on diesel vehicles registered before September 2015 and petrol vehicles registered before 2006.

Since Glasgow's LEZ launch in June 2023, nearly 33,000 fines have been issued to non-compliant drivers who entered the restricted city centre zone.

Three more LEZ will launch across Scotland within the next few weeks in Dundee, Edinburgh, and Aberdeen.

Read more here: A simple guide to Scotland’s Low Emission Zones

How does the LEZ work?

If a driver enters a Scottish Low Emission Zone with a non-compliant vehicle, they will be issued an initial fine of £60.

But, like a parking ticket, the fine reduces by 50% if it is paid within the first 14 days.

If a vehicle re-enters the LEZ within 90 days of its last breach, the penalty charge will double.

Fines will continue to double until reaching a maximum of £480 for cars and light goods vehicles and £960 for buses and HGVs.

Where is Glasgow's LEZ?

Glasgow's Low Emission Zone, which launched in June 2023, is surrounded by the M8 along its west and northern boundary, and the River Clyde on the south boundary.

The zones east boundary runs past Saltmarket and along High Street.