TfL staff incurred £30,000 in parking fines and road charges
Figures revealed by a Freedom of Information request show significant spending on infringements and other expenses.
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Transport for London (TfL) staff incurred over £30,000 in parking fines and road charges during the financial year April 1, 2025, to March 31, 2026. This expenditure was revealed through a Freedom of Information request handled by the Local Democracy Reporting Service and MyLondon.
Breakdown of Fines and Charges
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The total sum includes more than £16,000 paid to 20 separate local authorities across London for 143 parking fines. Furthermore, TfL paid £9,460 for Penalty Charge Notices issued on its own network. Private enforcement companies, including PayMyParking and Euro Car Parks, collected £6,631 of these payments.
These transactions were all listed under the departments of either TfL's Chief Operating Officer or Chief Customer & Strategy Officer. The information was disclosed following a request for all company card transactions under £250 made by staff during the specified period. TfL typically publishes details of external payments and corporate expenditure exceeding £250, but lower-value spending is not routinely made public.
TfL's Explanation for Fines
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TfL officials stated that fines often arise when staff members must park at the nearest accessible point to attend an incident. They indicated that staff members will reimburse TfL for the fine when appropriate. The organisation also uses credit cards for testing payment platforms, including Oyster top-ups and road user charges, before system updates.
A TfL spokesperson explained that for urgent operational reasons, vehicles are sometimes parked at the closest access point to an incident. To ensure prompt payment of fines related to operational issues, staff may use a TfL credit card. The spokesperson added that this process is regularly reviewed to ensure compliance with wider policies, including proper authorisation, recording, and reimbursement of payments made for operational reasons.
Criticism and Other Expenditures
The figures emerged shortly after TfL increased Tube fares by an average of 5.8 per cent, with further bus and tram fare rises planned. Conservative politicians have criticised the spending, with former Assembly Member Gareth Bacon describing it as "squandering" taxpayer cash. Shadow Cabinet Minister Julia Lopez suggested it appeared TfL was granting itself leniency not available to the public.
Neil Garratt, a Tory London Assembly member, called the £30,000 figure an "appalling statistic" representing nearly £600 in wasteful spending per week. Jonathan Eida of the TaxPayers' Alliance urged TfL bosses to explain transactions, recover costs, and demonstrate respect for public money. The report also noted miscellaneous payments, including £2 for New York Times articles accessed behind a paywall and funds spent at Greggs and GAIL's Bakeries for staff working overtime or at events.
Questions this report answers
+How much did TfL staff spend on parking fines and road charges?
TfL staff incurred over £30,000 in parking fines and road charges between April 1, 2025, and March 31, 2026. This total includes fines paid to local authorities and TfL's own network.
+How were the fines paid?
The fines were paid using TfL credit cards, often when staff needed to park closest to an incident location. TfL stated that staff members reimburse the organisation for these fines when appropriate.
+What other expenses were noted?
Beyond fines, the report noted miscellaneous payments including £2 for New York Times articles, £237.50 at Greggs, and £209.50 at GAIL's Bakery for staff working overtime or at events.
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