The number of drivers visited by bailiffs over unpaid traffic fines has surged amid a rise in clean air zones, new figures show. Some four million penalty charge notices (PCNs) were referred to enforcement agencies in England and Wales in the 2023/24 financial year, the Times reported. That is up from 2.4 million during the previous 12 months, 1.9 million in 2019/20, and 1.3 million in 2017/18.
The figures, compiled by the Civil Enforcement Association (CEA), a trade body representing bailiff companies, attribute this rise to factors like a post-coronavirus backlog of court proceedings and clean air zones. CEA chief executive Russell Hamblin-Boone highlighted that some members of the public have “given themselves permission to act with impunity”, leading to a normalization of antisocial behaviour.
AA president Edmund King described the increase in cases referred to enforcement agencies as “remarkable”, advising drivers to pay up or challenge tickets instead of ignoring them. He emphasised that drivers cannot evade fines by ignoring them, and recommended compliance with road rules as the best way to avoid penalties.
When drivers fail to pay a PCN despite reminders, councils transfer the cases to enforcement agencies, which may involve the dispatch of bailiffs if payment is still not made. A spokesperson for the Local Government Association emphasised that bailiffs should be used as a last resort, with motorists having the right to appeal if they believe fines were issued unfairly.
Money raised from fines and charges is utilised for running parking services and essential transport improvements, including addressing road repairs backlog, congestion, air quality issues, and supporting local bus services. The article also highlights the impact of fines on drivers, mechanisms of enforcement, and advice for motorists facing penalties.