Free Traffic Legal Advice

I was unaware that Heathrow Airport as of 2023 is now in the ULEZ, I drove down from the North of England and haven't lived in London for over a decade. Upon just returning home recently I found a PCN issued on the 01/01/2025 for driving into Wayfarer Road (Heathrow Terminal 5) on 20/12/2024.

Had I noticed I was driving into the ULEZ I would have of course paid the ULEZ beforehand, but to say the signs are inadequate is an understatement, I only realised Heathrow Airport is now in the ULEZ after receiving the PCN.

I just paid the £90 penalty, but the problem is since the 20th I drove into Heathrow Airport off the M4 maybe 5 times, on the 21st, 24th of Dec, 7th and 8th of Jan. I have since tried to pay for driving into the ULEZ (Heathrow Airport) on those dates, but of course now I cannot.

So I will probably now be facing a £450 fine in total.

Is there anything I can do in this situation? It is ridiculous and the signage is not adequate and it feels like entrapment.

I have read through the post you linked, thank you for your reply. Please find scans of the PCN in full which I paid today below.

Please note so far I have only been issued with this PCN so far, however I expect more in the post (5 in total all to Heathrow Airport, both Terminals 3 and 5). Not sure if it's relevant but I am not the registered keeper a mamber of my family is.

Well I'll have to do that then, as I was the driver so will have to act on my family members behalf.

In view of the state of Royal Mail, you can try ringing TfL and asking what PCNs are outstanding against your reg.mark.

In view of the state of Royal Mail, you can try ringing TfL and asking what PCNs are outstanding against your reg.mark.

I phoned in this Monday 13th, to try to pay all the other outstanding entries, they told me I can't do that it's too late and that I only had the one PCN so far generated on the 01/01/2025 for driving in on 20/12/2024. The problem is I also drove in 4 times after that so I can expect those dates to come in later as well. I can call in again this week to check if required.

To be clear, you paid the first one and have now received one more?

I have only received one so far, that is the one scanned above which I have paid £90 for. To be clear I drove into Heathrow Airport on 20/12/2024, 21/12/2024, 24/12/2024. 07/01/2025 and 08/01/2025 in the same car. (The reason for so many entries is I had two family members flying in and out and Virgin also misplaced luggage so we had to drive in again the next day to pick it up).

I am going to pay them this evening and then make a representation, unless I should do otherwise?

Yes I phoned today and there are only the 3.

I paid the one from the 20th of December already and there are the two from January, somehow the other two went under the radar.

If I do make representation and I lose will I have to pay £180 each for the two penalties this January?

Just FYI, I spoke to several families and friends who live in Henley and regularly use Heathrow airport, none were aware that it is now in the ULEZ and were surprised, so it is not just me, but they have Tesla's and use Taxis unlike myself, personally this is a matter of principal since it feels like entrapment, not once did I realise I was driving into a ULEZ zone and I don't want others making the same mistake.

Please can you post a GSV link to the point at which you entered the Zone?
A map of the zone is here https://tfl.gov.uk/modes/driving/ultra-low-emission-zone/ulez-where-and-when

(Scroll down)

I was caught on the 7th and 8th on Welland Road (both in Terminal 5 first page of the PCNs shown)

This is where I entered Terminal 5, I may have entered Terminal 3 off the motorway at night on the 7th but I do not remember and do not remember seeing any signs for ULEZ.

GSV Link here

I'm sorry but that tiny ULEZ sign amongst all the othera and the advertising is hardly adequate, I could take it further and say that I was unaware there was a charge (there is no such mention of this on the sign), I have not yet in my life paid a ULEZ charge and haven't lived in London for decades, but the truth is I was completely unaware Heathrow Airport is now in the ULEZ.