UK driver left 'in a complete muddle' after getting £2,900 in clean air zone fines
Traffic in Anchor Road in Bristol City centre
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A driver has been left in a “complete muddle” after raking up a whopping £2,900 in clean air zone fines.
Cleo Burrows, from Bristol, received dozens of fines in the last few months.
She was handed her first fine in April this year and believed she had six days since receiving a letter to pay the £9 non-compliant vehicle fee.
But drivers have six days to pay after entering the clean air zone rather than from the date the fine goes through the letterbox.
Pedestrians cross behind a commercial vehicle on Baldwin Street in Bristol City centre
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Burrows revealed Bristol City Council offered to set up a payment plan for her to settle her fines.
But the programme would have still been unaffordable.
She told Bristol Live: “I had been working a lot and was shocked when I got this letter saying I would have to pay £60.
“I started getting a whole bunch of letters coming almost every day from April up until June.”
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Traffic leaves and enters Bristol
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Burrows added: “I called them the other day and was really shocked to hear that I have fines of over £2,900.
“It was such a massive shock. I thought the letter gave you six days to pay.
“I find it all a bit complicated and I have so many letters now that I feel so confused. It’s got me in a complete muddle.”
Comparing the situation to Sadiq Khan’s controversial Ulez charge, she said: “I also go into London regularly but you can open an account with Ulez and put your card details.
The woman claimed she pays her Ulez fee if she travels to London
PA"Every time I go to London, the charge is automatically debited which makes it much easier.
“I have a hectic schedule and often work from 7am to 7pm but now I’m being vigilant and trying not to go through town. It’s been so stressful.”
Bristol City Council’s website confirmed the daily charge can be paid up to six days before, on the day of, or six days after travel.
Refusing to cough up the cash can result in a penalty charge notice of £120.
A car in Central London passes a speed camera
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The fine is reduced to £60 if paid within two weeks.
Bristol’s clear air zone was introduced back in November 2022.
There were initially temporary exemptions for local vehicles to give residents time to prepare.
Exemptions included private passenger cars, vans or LGVs not registered with a business.