SAM ROWLANDS, Member of the Welsh Parliament for North Wales, has slammed more anti-motorist measures for Wales.
Mr Rowlands, Shadow Cabinet Secretary for Transport and Infrastructure was speaking in the Senedd during a discussion on the Road Traffic (Vehicle Emissions) (Fixed Penalty) (Wales) (Amendment) Regulations 2026.
He said: “The Welsh Conservatives will be voting against these regulations, because they represent yet another anti-motorist measure from this Labour Welsh Government.
“At a time when families are already facing rising costs, increasing fixed penalties for stationary idling from £20 to as much as £150 sends a very clear message that drivers are just an easy target for this Government.
“For many people across Wales, particularly in rural and semi-rural communities, driving is not a luxury; it’s essential for getting to work, taking children to school, caring for relatives and simply going about daily life.
“Instead of backing motorists with practical workable alternatives, this Government too often opts for punitive measures that simply make driving more difficult and more expensive. These changes give councils the power to impose significantly higher fines.
“Tackling air quality should be about education, infrastructure and realistic alternatives, not overly penalising people who rely on their vehicles, often because no viable public transport option exists. Time and again, we see policies that make driving more expensive, more restricted and more difficult.
“This is part of a wider pattern we see from this Government that feels disconnected from the realities faced by working people. For those reasons, and because we believe policies should support motorists rather than single them out.”
A stationary idling offence is a failure to stop a vehicle engine when stationary for the prevention of exhaust emissions. The proposed regulations will establish a new penalty range of between £75 and £150. Where the recipient of a fixed-penalty notice fails to respond, this will increase by 50%. An offence is only committed, however, where a driver refuses to comply with a request to turn off their engine
The motion was agreed with 37 in favour, no abstentions and 12 against.
Mr Rowlands added: “I am extremely disappointed that motorists are once being targeted by the Welsh Labour Government.
“We have the ridiculous default 20mph in some areas where it is not needed and still bitterly opposed by the majority, and a road building ban which means desperately needed upgrades have been scrapped.”
