French data protection body mulls legal case over ULEZ fines

Fines have been sent to drivers in France despite Brexit ending data-sharing agreements

Numerous drivers have been hit by fines

Data protection body Commission nationale de l'informatique et des libertés (Cnil) is considering legal action over fines posted to French residents who had driven in London’s Lez/Ulez low-emission zones.

Lawyers representing around 100 people with French-registered cars who were sent fines by EPC, debt-collector for Transport for London (TfL), say Cnil has told them “it is looking to make a complaint to the public prosecutor with regard to the offences committed by these companies”.

Avocate Coralline Manier, of Woog et associés, said Cnil told them this came after it had been unable to obtain information from TfL and EPC about how they accessed drivers’ names and addresses. 

The lawyers had previously asked Cnil to investigate, and have also lodged a legal complaint with the Paris public prosecutor.

Read more: London Ulez fines: French judge's decision over 'data breach' due soon

Since Brexit, there is no UK-France driver data-sharing agreement.

Read more: Mystery over how French driving fines continue to reach UK addresses

In many cases, fines were sent after foreign-plated cars were incorrectly identified by automated systems.

Some Connexion readers have had their fines overtuned.

Read more: British retiree in France refunded after paying £2,100 to drive in Ulez