Motorists driving through Oxford's new congestion charge zones without the right permit will now be hit with £70 fines, after the council ended its initial "soft launch" period.
For the first six weeks of the scheme, which began on October 29, drivers caught entering the six charging zones were sent warning letters instead of penalty notices.
The grace period has now finished, meaning anyone who fails to pay the £5 daily fee will receive an official penalty charge notice.
The fine can be reduced to £35 if paid within 14 days, but rises sharply to £105 if left unpaid for more than 28 days.
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During the warning period, the council sent out 4,695 reminder letters, but did not issue any charges before December 4.
The authority has now released its first set of monitoring data for the trial. According to the council, vehicle numbers have dropped sharply at several of the monitored locations.
Hythe Bridge Street saw the largest fall, with traffic down by 33 per cent, while St Clements recorded a 22 per cent reduction, and Hollow Way was down 20 per cent.
The council said these figures suggest that the new £5 fee is already changing driver behaviour, although it stressed that one month of data would not be enough to draw firm conclusions.
Oxford's congestion charge has officially begun issuing penalties to drivers who fail to pay the £5 daily fee
| PAFootfall has also increased by 22 per cent year-on-year, although officials admitted that numbers had already been rising before the scheme launched.
Some shopping locations saw big jumps too, with the Botley Road retail park reporting 47 per cent more visitors than last November, while Cowley's Templars Square saw a 37 per cent increase.
Councillor Andrew Gant, the cabinet member responsible for transport, said personal stories from local people had been the most striking part of the scheme so far.
He said: "What's more powerful than the data, to me, is the stories people have told us about how their lives and their journeys in the city have been transformed positively.
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The council revealed it has sent out 4,695 reminder letters of the congestion charge before issuing penalties
| PA"With Stagecoach and Oxford Bus Company providing service improvements, and the county council's offer of free park and ride bus travel, people have more choice and convenience when it comes to bus travel."
Anne Gwinnett, director of the campaign group Open Roads for Oxford, described the early results as "rather a mixed bag", adding that the figures show "the kind of patterns that we expected".
According to Ms Gwinnett, some drivers are already changing their routes to avoid the charge. She said traffic, which once went around The Plain roundabout and up St Clements towards the hospitals, is now diverting through the Headington area instead.
The group has launched legal action against the congestion charge, with the Independent Oxford Alliance, which she chairs, continuing to oppose the wider traffic restrictions.
The six streets marked in green will be part of Oxford's congestion charge scheme | OXFORDSHIRE COUNTY COUNCIL Drivers can make the £5 payment up until midnight the following day, with only cars and motorhomes impacted.
By December 2, more than 84,500 permits had been issued, including permits for Blue Badge holders, carers, healthcare workers and residents who qualify for exemptions.
So far, the scheme has raised £291,780 in its first month. The council said the money is being used to fund free park-and-ride services and to cover administrative costs.
Officials expect the congestion charge to stay in place until the planned traffic filters trial begins after Botley Road reopens, which is scheduled for August 2026.