Almost 40% of all appeals for fines issued in Aberdeen’s low emission zones have been successful, new figures reveal.
Information obtained from Aberdeen City Council by the Scottish Conservatives shows 2,163 appeals have been lodged against penalties for driving in the zones.
Of these, 814 have been successful from June 1, when the LEZs were introduced, and December 4.
A total of 158 have been overturned on the basis of a vehicle being wrongly classified as LEZ non-compliant.
The council said in some instances, the DVLA will issue the customer with a new V5C, a logbook that tracks the registration and taxation history of a specific vehicle.
These cases can include vehicles where a private plate has been applied and the DVLA has not updated its records with this information.
It comes as Aberdeen set a record in August for the highest number of LEZ penalties issued in a month.
Set at a national level by the Scottish Government, the initial fine for all non-compliant vehicles entering the zone is £60 but the cost of the PCN is cut by 50% if they are paid within 14 days.
After that, a scheme surcharge means that the penalty charge will double each subsequent breach of the rules by the same vehicle.
Scottish Conservative North East MSP Liam Kerr, who has campaigned against the introduction of LEZs in Aberdeen, said: “The high success rate of appeals shows Aberdeen City Council has failed to get its house in order on this scheme, which has been rushed through in a desperate attempt to make money from hard-pressed motorists.
“These zones are hammering drivers with older vehicles who can’t afford to replace them so I’m glad that motorists are holding the council to account over these fines by ensuring the correct procedures are being followed.
“It’s little wonder so many appeals are successful when some of the council’s own vehicles aren’t compliant, the signage is not clear enough and the DVLA database lacks sufficient accuracy for a scheme like this.
“The future of several businesses, including the taxi trade, have been put at risk by this draconian scheme.
“That is why the council, together with the Scottish Government, must listen to these concerns so more people are enticed into coming to our city centre.”
