Have I entered the Clean Air Zone

In line with the Data Protection Act 2018, the Council and the Driving and Vehicle Licensing Agency (DVLA) are unable to provide information using a Vehicle Registration Number (VRN) to confirm whether an individual has entered the Clean Air Zone (CAZ). 

This is because a VRN is classed as personal data.

How you can tell if you have entered the Clean Air Zone

Before reaching the zone, advance warning signs are on the main routes to inform drivers there is a Clean Air Zone ahead.

At the entry points to the zone there are restriction signs. You can view images of these on the CAZ Sign Inventory.

Within the zone there are also signs to remind drivers they have entered the Clean Air Zone. Here is an example of the sign.

You can see GOV.UK: Rules for motorists for more detail about traffic signs and rules

Why we can't tell you if you've entered the Clean Air Zone

We are unable to confirm whether an individual contacting us about a VRN is in fact the registered keeper of the vehicle. Therefore, sharing this information could identify an individual and details of their location, which would lead to a data breach and potential safeguarding issues.

We will however always aim to help an individual to retrace their route and have a series of prompts, including using the online Clean Air Zone boundary map, to plot likely routes they took from A to B.

Why we can use a VRN to issue a Penalty Charge Notice but not to check if you’ve entered the CAZ

We determine whether a vehicle entering the Clean Air Zone is liable for a Clean Air Zone charge using Automatic Number Plate Recognition (ANPR) cameras. These capture data and upload it into a national database, which is managed by the DVLA.

We capture Vehicle Registration Numbers on its ANPR cameras. However, a rigorous data protection policy is in place to ensure the information is used correctly. This is through the Council’s agreement with the DVLA's Keeper of a Vehicle at the Date of an Event (KADOE) service.

Through this agreement, we are only provided with relevant information to identify who the owner of a vehicle is and to issue a PCN, should enforcement be required. 

We are not able to use the data from KADOE for purposes other than those agreed.

For more information about how we use personal data in relation to the Clean Air Zone, please see our Privacy Notice.