London Assembly demands Congestion Charge fines from US

Published: 7:00 AM December 10, 2009 Updated: 8:15 AM October 14, 2020

THE London Assembly has called on the Mayor to demand payment from foreign embassies refusing to pay Congestion tolls and fines. It called on Boris Johnson to write to the Head of State for each country including the USA

By Mike Brooke

THE London Assembly last night called on the Mayor to demand payment from foreign embassies which refuse to pay Congestion tolls and fines.

It wants Boris Johnson to write to the Head of State for each country refusing to pay up and invite ambassadors to explain their reasons. The responses would be published on City Hall’s website.

Assembly Member Caroline Pidgeon said: “The US and other embassies that dodge payment are insulting their host city and denying an income to Transport for London. They must explain how they can justify their actions.”

There is at least �28 million outstanding in unpaid tolls and fines by foreign embassies, a figure growing by the month, the Assembly was told.

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Nearly a third of the diplomatic missions, 30 per cent, refuse to pay. Worst offenders’ are said to include the United States, Russian, German and Japanese embassies.

Transport for London has given up on chasing the embassies and has left it in the hands of the Foreign & Commonwealth Office.