Dinex announced it is open between Christmas and the New Year so that customers who put in an order for a particulate filter to make their vans Euro 3 compliant, and thus exempt from the charge, will not have to pay either the £100 daily fee or be hit by a £500 fine if they travel into the zone before the filter is fitted so long as they can provide proof of order. When they enter the zone again following a 28 day period, the vehicle must be compliant.
A spokesman for TfL told What Van?: “We’re aware a small number of operators are facing difficulties in getting filters fitted. We would encourage people to get in touch to provide evidence (of orders placed), which we will look at on a case by case basis.”
The little publicised 28-day warning letter policy has been in force since the zone was introduced for heavy goods vehicles in 2008. It applies from when a vehicle first enters the LEZ regardless of the date. So if an operator makes a one-off journey into the zone, or several trips within a 28-day period but thereafter does not go within the boundary, there is no charge.
However, as the TfL spokesman said: “It’s more likely than not that you’ll be making the journey again.”
Nick Fairholme, TL’s director of Congestion Charging and Traffic Enforcement, said the 28-day policy was “in keeping with TfL’s aim that operators should comply with the LEZ emissions standards rather than pay a daily charge or face a penalty”.
