Britain and US fall out over LOndon's "Congestion Charge"

[jimbo45]

Hi all
I rather like this

The "Cheeky" looking Mayor of London - Boris Johnson -- the guy with the blond "Mop hair" has sent a Bill to President Obama for the London Congestion charge for his convoy including "The Beast" for driving in Central London.

I wonder if Obama doesn't pay -- will he be served with a "County Court Judgement" and have a "default" on his Credit file registered plus a Bailiff's visit !!!!


Actually I find the idea of a congestion charge in large cities a good idea -- Paris for example is just DREADFUL at rush hour time in the central area.



Anyway enjoy.

BBC News - Barack Obama's 'The Beast' incurs £10 London C-charge

Cheers
jimbo

 

[mckillwashere]

That Is asinine.

 

[burtie]

I am sure the UK government will do nothing to recover the money yet they will happily chase me for £10 and threaten me with everything they got!

 

[iRHardcore]

I don't see why everyone else should get charged yet he shouldn't. I'm very happy he's being charged.

 

[Dwarf]

And who can forget this?

BBC News - Barack Obama's car, nicknamed 'The Beast', gets stuck

 

[kado897]

There is a long standing dispute between the Greater London Council (GLC) and the US embassy over congestion and parking charges. I think the US says it is a tax from which they are exempt whereas the GLC says no it's not it is a charge on road users. Ho hum!

 

[seekermeister]

All of the public roads in the world are paid for by the taxpayers. Since these roads are owned by the taxpayers, no taxpayer should ever be charged for using them. The name given to this "tax" is a congestion fee, but whether this tax is paid or not, it wouldn't have any effect on the amount of traffic using the roads, thus the only thing that it would accomplish is to fill the government's coffers for other purposes. It was not clear to in in that article, whether all UK drivers are charged this fee or not, but if it is, this size of fee would be exorbitant and repressive, thus unjust. If only levied on the wealthy, it is still unjust.

Oklahoma has a number of toll roads, which I rarely use, because originally the tolls were only intended to be a means of financing their construction and was supposed to have been dropped after that was paid, but that has never happened, and it is now obvious that it never will. They are merely a means for the government do dig into everyone's pockets a little deeper.

To attempt to charge this kind of fee on diplomats of foreign nations, is the ultimate in governmental greed. I would never approve of these fees being paid.

 

[johnwillyums]

Yes. There is a list of countries whose Embassy staff refuse to pay the charge. They say it is a tax, from which they are exempt, London says it is a charge for services.
It amounts to millions owed but America is not alone in refusing to pay.

 

[kado897]

The congestion charge applies to anyone who enters designated areas of London in a Vehicle to which the charge applies.

 

[seekermeister]

The congestion charge applies to anyone who enters designated areas of London in a Vehicle to which the charge applies.

And what kind of vehicles does it not apply to?

 

[Dwarf]

Extortionate tolls is something I definitely don't agree with. In some cases, it is far cheaper for firms to make a 45 mile (or whatever) detour and pay for the extra fuel involved than it is for them to pay the toll charge.

If all the tax that is collected through the road fund duty and what is imposed on the price of fuel (and other forms of vehicular taxation) is actually pumped back into the roads infrastructure rather than topping up the government's coffers, then the money would be there to fully resurface most, if not all, the existing roads in the UK mainland.

 

[Dwarf]

More info can be found here: Congestion Charging | Transport for London

For exemptions, see: Discounts and exemptions | Transport for London

 

[kado897]

The congestion charge applies to anyone who enters designated areas of London in a Vehicle to which the charge applies.

And what kind of vehicles does it not apply to?

I don't know the full list but basically it is any petrol or diesel vehicle that is not a Public Service Vehicle (Bus, Ambulance, Fire Engine, Police Vehicle etc.).

See Dwarfs post.

 

[KremmenUK]

Any vehicle that emits less that 100 Co2 is exempt (upon application), plus licensed Taxi's, Buses and disabled people in possession of a UK Blue Badge (again you need to register).

As posted above, this is considered in London not as a 'congestion' charge but a nice little revenue earner.

 

[kado897]

Any vehicle that emits less that 100 Co2 is exempt (upon application), plus licensed Taxi's, Buses and disabled people in possession of a UK Blue Badge (again you need to register).

As posted above, this is considered in London not as a 'congestion' charge but a nice little revenue earner.

Absolutely.:devil: