Heathrow Fixed Penalty Notice crackdown creates new risks for licensed taxi drivers, warns LTDA rep
- Perry Richardson
- Jul 20, 2025
- 2 min read
LTDA Airport Representative Suzanne Sullivan has warned of growing pressure on licensed taxi drivers operating in and around Heathrow, following a surge in local authority enforcement and new Transport for London (TfL) reporting rules.
Speaking in TAXI magazine, Sullivan highlighted that while black cab drivers have not been the root cause of complaints near the airport, they are increasingly being caught up in action originally aimed at private hire vehicles (PHVs) and out-of-town operators. These complaints include idling in residential streets, illegal parking and antisocial behaviour, largely driven by non-local PHVs waiting between jobs.
As a result, Spelthorne and Hillingdon councils have stepped up patrols in residential areas close to the airport, issuing Fixed Penalty Notices (FPNs) to drivers caught in breach of Public Spaces Protection Orders (PSPOs). But the issue has been complicated further by new TfL requirements introduced from 1 July 2024.
Under these rules, any paid FPN regardless of whether it was issued by a local authority or police, must be reported to TfL within 48 hours. Sullivan noted that this is a shift in expectations, particularly as many council-issued FPNs do not appear on enhanced DBS checks and have historically been considered minor.
TfL has come under increasing criticism in recent months over administrative delays, inconsistent decision-making, and its heavy-handed approach to enforcement. According to the airport rep, some drivers have received warning letters for minor traffic infringements, while others have seen their licence renewals delayed or suspended despite meeting all requirements.
Sullivan warned that while some drivers may be tempted to avoid reporting a minor FPN to avoid scrutiny, this is a risk. Sullivan said: “Understandably, a lot of drivers are asking questions, such as if a local authority-issued FPN usually doesn’t even show up on an enhanced DBS check, why would anyone in their right mind report it to TfL?
“The above is a fair query. Trust in TfL isn’t exactly high right now, in fact it’s never been lower. With the never ending admin errors, delays, and inconsistency in how things are handled, there’s little confidence that reporting something minor won’t come back to bite you. And yes, while a majority of the time an FPN like this won’t affect your licence, you still have to weigh up the risk.”
It is important to note that an FPN only needs to be reported if it has been paid. Drivers appealing a penalty are not required to report it unless they lose the case and pay the fine. In that event, the 48-hour window to notify TfL starts from the date of payment.
Sullivan’s practical advice to drivers is to avoid residential areas near the airport altogether. Drivers needing to report an FPN should email TfL with their full name, badge number, the date of issue, and the reason for the penalty.
