Press Release

FLA CALLS FOR A CONSISTENT APPROACH TO LONDON ROAD USER CHARGING

31 January 2007

The Finance & Leasing Association (FLA) has urged Transport for London (TfL) to extend the transfer of liability regime for finance companies currently in use under the London Congestion Charging Scheme to the proposed Low Emission Zone (LEZ).

Responding this week to TfL’s consultation on the Low Emission Zone Scheme Order, FLA also called on the authority to pursue Department for Transport (DfT) to implement as soon as possible amendments to the London Road User Charging Regulations to enable finance companies to transfer liability for penalty notices to all lease or hire agreements over a six month period. Currently this only applies to agreements under six months, which costs the industry around £8 million per year in wrongly-directed charges and excessive administration. FLA also stressed the importance of accurate vehicle and registered keeper databases to successfully enforce the LEZ.

FLA Policy Adviser, Paul Harrison, stressed that:

“Finance houses, like all other business, crave certainty. Carrying across the congestion charging provisions to the proposed Low Emission Zone will ensure a consistent approach to charging enforcement in the capital.”