Excuses from drivers for breaching the low emission rules in Glasgow include sat navs leading them into the zone and that the whole scheme is ‘unlawful’.

Motorists came up with the justifications as they unsuccessfully appealed fines issued over the last year after being caught driving more polluting vehicles, which are banned in LEZ streets.

Other reasons given to escape the penalty charges included claims that their vehicles were actually compliant, that their cars were not actually in the LEZ, that  they didn’t know about it or that they were not the registered keeper of a vehicle.

Glasgow City Council revealed the reasons given in a report  presented to the Net Zero and Climate Progress Monitoring City Policy Committee today.

Up until March 31 this year, 5,692 appeals against an LEZ penalty charge notice were received with 1,765 of those successful – equivalent to 31 per cent.

A total of £11,520 was refunded following appeals and cancellations.

Situations where people ended up getting penalty charges cancelled included the recipients being blue badge holders and there was evidence that the vehicles were complaint among other reasons.

The meeting heard drivers paid out nearly £1 million for LEZ penalty charge notices in Glasgow over the last year.

A total of 38,294 penalty charge notices were handed out with the fines raking in £982,415 between June 1, 2023 and March 31 this year.

The total roll out of the LEZ scheme has cost over £2.5 million but £2.2 million came from grant funding from the Scottish Government.

The net revenue received by Glasgow City Council amounts to £747,511 for the first financial year.

Commenting on the LEZ update at the council meeting,  Councillor Keiran O’Neill, Labour, said: “It is good to see this – I know there has been teething issues with the LEZ.

He added: “I find it quite staggering how many people are getting repeated fines and how that is being pursued. How are we trying to address that behaviour change?”

He asked was there a particular vehicle associated with larger fines.

Figures show there were 690 cases of people amassing fines of £960.

An official said the council will look at working out the types of vehicles that are likely to be repeat offenders and will update Councillor O’Neill when the information is available.