Transport for LondonHow it works
There is a network of camera sites monitoring every entrance and exit to the Congestion Charging zone along the boundary road, and monitoring journeys made within the charging zone.
Each camera site consists of at least one colour camera plus a monochrome camera for each lane of traffic being monitored.
The cameras provide high-quality digital images of the whole vehicle to Automatic Number Plate Recognition software, which reads and records each number plate. Tests show that the cameras read more than 90% of all number plates accurately.
The cameras read your vehicle registration as you enter, drive within or exit the Congestion Charging zone and check it against our database. If this check establishes that you have already paid or do not have to pay the charge then the image is automatically deleted from the database.
Following a final check at midnight the following charging day, the system highlights the vehicle registration numbers that should have been paid for but have not been. The recorded images for these vehicles are then manually checked. Once they are validated Penalty Charge Notices (PCNs) are generated. In the first instance legislation holds the registered keeper liable, so any PCN issued is sent to the keeper of the vehicle.
What do I need to know about the central London Congestion Charge camera system? (PDF 1.5MB)
