Thousands of drivers have been slapped with penalty notices during the initial 12 months of enforcement for a Low Emission Zone across a major city.

According to fresh data, Glasgow City Council collected £982,415 from paid penalties, with net revenue reaching £747,511 after processing refunds and cancellations.

The scheme, which targets vehicles which fail to meet emission standards in the city centre, began issuing fines in June 2023 following a grace period.

The enforcement area, bounded by the M8 motorway, the River Clyde and the High Street, uses Automatic Number Plate Recognition cameras to identify non-compliant vehicles entering the zone, and operates around the clock throughout the year.

The second year of enforcement saw Glasgow authorities issue 29,838 penalties, representing a decrease from the previous period. Despite this reduction, the council characterised the volume of violations as substantial.

Revenue from paid fines during 2024/25 totalled £764,580, with 18,962 penalties settled by drivers. Authorities refunded £7,590 following successful challenges and administrative corrections.

The annual report detailed: "During 2024/25, the number of PCNs issued has continued to slowly reduce. However, a significant number of non-compliant vehicle entries continue to be recorded, averaging approximately 2,500 per month."

The zone, measuring roughly one square mile, aims to improve air quality by restricting access to vehicles that fail to meet specified emission criteria.

Glasgow has raked in nearly £1million in Low Emission Zone fines in the first 12 months of the scheme

However, according to appeal figures, there is a significant shift in outcomes between enforcement periods. The second year saw 4,468 challenges submitted, with 2,383 proving successful, marking a success rate exceeding 53 per cent.

This contrasts sharply with the first year's 5,692 appeals, where only 1,765 succeeded, representing 31 per cent, the report detailed.

Common grounds for successful appeals included Blue Badge holders, drivers proving their vehicles met emission requirements, and incorrect registration entries.

Meanwhile, additional penalty cancellations resulted from traffic diversions that forced motorists into the restricted zone.

The LEZ prevents certain vehicles from entering emission zones | ABERDEEN CITY COUNCIL

Financial records spanning both enforcement years revealed substantial revenue generation alongside significant administrative costs.

The first year's collection of £982,415 in penalties resulted in £747,511 net revenue after processing refunds totalling £234,904.

The scheme's implementation required considerable investment, with total expenditure reaching approximately £2.58million since 2018. Grant funding covered £1.58million of these costs, leaving the council to fund the remaining £1million.

Penalty structures for breaching LEZ rules follow a tiered system, starting at £60 for initial violations and doubling with each subsequent breach.

Cars and light goods vehicles face maximum fines of £480, while buses and Heavy Goods Vehicles can receive penalties up to £960. Drivers paying within 14 days receive a 50 per cent reduction on all penalty charges.

The Glasgow LEZ boundary map | GLASGOW CITY COUNCIL

Glasgow's emission control scheme commenced in phases, with buses facing restrictions from December 2018 before expanding to all vehicles in June 2023. Residents living within the zone received an additional 12-month grace period, with enforcement beginning June 2024.

The scheme operates through continuous camera monitoring, issuing one penalty notice per vehicle per day, regardless of the number of entries, with motorcycles and mopeds remaining exempt from restrictions.

Glasgow Council explained that revenue generated beyond operational costs would be used to support air quality improvements or climate change initiatives.

The initiative forms part of broader efforts to reduce harmful emissions in Scotland's largest city, with similar schemes operating across the UK.