Holidaymaker hoping for a ‘relatively cheap’ holiday is fined £2,000 after driving his motorhome through London’s Low Emission Zone to a campsite inside the M25 over Easter weekend
A self-employed architect was fined £2,000 after driving his motorhome through London’s Low Emission Zone on his way to a campsite for his holiday.
Geoffrey Eaton, 53, from Colchester, traveled to the capital on the Friday of Easter weekend with his wife Linda, 53, and their two children Adam, 16, and Elizabeth, 13, for what was set to be a ‘relatively cheap’ day out.
However, Mr Eaton was left with a ‘very nasty surprise’ after being fined £2,000 by Transport for London.
“We haven’t been abroad for six years and this two-ton fine would have completely ruined our summer vacation,” he told the newspaper. Independent.
“It came at the worst time because our heating and electricity bills have been getting higher and higher. It’s paralyzing us left, right and center.”
Geoffrey Eaton, 53, from Colchester, was fined £2,000 after driving his motor home through London’s Low Emission Zone
The low emission zone is designed to limit or discourage the entry of some polluting vehicles
Mr Eaton made two five-mile journeys within the zone to and from a campsite in Abbey Wood, paying £300 each way.
However, he said he was unaware that the zone stretched along the capital’s northern and southern ring roads and had not seen any warning signs.
He added that he only realized he had made the mistake when the fine arrived in the mail a week later on April 18.
By this time the cost of each trip had increased to £1,000 due to late payment of costs.
This left the 53-year-old with no choice but to pay with his credit card, which has messed up his vacation plans for the rest of the year.
He thought he had hit the jackpot when he discovered a campsite in Abbey Wood where he could leave his 2.8 liter Laika Ecovip motorhome while he and his family explored China Town, Covent Garden and the Royal Festival Hall.
However, the Low Emissions Zone – which is distinct from the Ultra Low Emissions Zone (ULEZ) – discourages access to some polluting vehicles, such as Mr Eaton’s RV which falls into the 3.5 tonne or more category.
The self-employed architect was told that if he failed to pay the £2,000 fine by May 1, it would double to £4,000.
Mr Eaton described the cost of the fine, adding: ‘If I had to pay £100 for being stupid and didn’t realize I entered the zone then I would have paid that.
‘But £2,000, that’s like a month’s salary – it’s a huge sum.
“We could have had a room at The Shard and stayed in the motorhome for two nights instead.”
TfL have since agreed a ‘discretionary refund’ of £1,400.
A TfL spokesperson said: ‘When people are faced with significant fines, we provide support and propose a manageable way to settle outstanding amounts.
“We have discussed this with Mr. Eaton and he is happy with the outcome.
‘The low-emission zone (LEZ) has existed since 2008 and is well established. All access points to the zone are marked and there are warning signs in front of them.
