A local authority made more than £478,000 from a low-emission zone over the first four months of the scheme, new figures show.
Glasgow City Council said it issued 20,134 fines between June and September this year, recovering £478,560.
The low-emission zone (LEZ) came into effect on June 1, and all vehicles entering the city centre must be compliant with emission standards or face a fine.
Last month, the Court of Session ruled the scheme was lawful and proportionate following a legal challenge from business owner William Paton, owner of Paton’s Accident Repair Centre in the Townhead area of the city.
The council said money recovered from fines will be used to reduce air pollution and help meet climate change targets.
A council spokesperson said: “Scottish LEZs operate by way of a penalty system, set in legislation to discourage non-compliant vehicle entry and to maximise the air quality benefits that can be delivered.
“Penalties are reduced by 50% if paid within 14 days, with all revenue above that incurred in running Glasgow’s LEZ scheme itself only used for activities that help reduce air pollution or contribute toward achieving our climate change targets.
“We would remind drivers that Glasgow’s LEZ is now in force and to familiarise themselves with its emissions requirements.”
The council website says the initial fine is £60 but it doubles with each subsequent breach of the rules by the same vehicle detected in the same LEZ.
Penalty charge rates are capped at £480 for cars and light goods vehicles, and £960 for buses and HGVs.
Glasgow’s Low Emission Zone has been deemed lawful and proportionate after the Court of Session dismissed a petition for Judicial Review of the scheme.
Full details here 👉 https://t.co/R0QGqIYq4e pic.twitter.com/Yl97jn7WQZ
— Glasgow City Council (@GlasgowCC) October 31, 2023
Fines are cut by 50% if paid within 14 days.
The figures show 89 of the £960 fines were issued in September, up from 21 in August, one in July and none in June.
Scottish Conservative transport spokesman Graham Simpson said: “It is clear that Glasgow’s low-emission zone has clobbered hard-pressed motorists for huge sums of money, only a few months since it was imposed.
“A rising number are being hit with the council’s new full-penalty fines, which total nearly £1,000.
“Ordinary Glaswegians, and in particular motorists and city centre businesses, are paying a huge price for this ill-thought-out policy.
“The SNP council must be upfront about how they intend to spend this money and other cities across Scotland must learn from how Glasgow’s low-emission zone has been so badly botched.”
Aberdeen, Edinburgh and Dundee are due to bring in LEZs next year.