London operators given extra 28 days to comply with LEZ

London operators given extra 28 days to comply with LEZ Transport for London has introduced a 28-day grace period for freight companies to make their fleets compliant with a new emission standards scheme for vehicles moving in and out of Greater London.
      The Low Emission Zone, due to come into effect on Feb. 4, will include daily charges for older, more polluting heavy goods vehicles that are below Euro 3 emission standards. Any non-compliant vehicle entering the zone will, rather than getting a penalty charge notice, instead receive a warning letter giving the vehicle keeper 28 days to make the vehicle compliant.
      In addition, operators who can demonstrate that replacement vehicles were ordered in good time are invited to make representations to TfL.
      “I am delighted that following our representations to Transport for London the measures to help non-compliant operators have been announced,” said Gordon Telling, the Freight Transport Association's head of policy for London, the Southeast and East of England.   
“Specifically, the 28-day compliance limit for first offences will help operators that have made reasonable efforts to comply but have encountered problems. Likewise, TfL's offer to hear representations from operators who have longer-term problems with new vehicles will go a long way to affirming TfL's commitment to a reasonable approach to enforcement.”