Americans working at the American Embassy in London have refused (and still refuse) to pay the Congestion Charge. And the Germans (who are also notoriously arrogant) also refuse to pay.
The Americans and Germans are claiming diplomatic immunity under the 1961 Vienna Convention, which gives protection against paying taxes. However, the Congestion Charges are charges, not taxes, and British officials need to pay similar road charges in San Francisco.
The good news is that refusing to pay results in fines that can increase to a maximum of £15,000 PER DAY. So the longer the Americans refuse to pay, the bigger their fines will be.
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18th October 2005.
Road toll leads to diplomatic row
Embassy staff have not paid the charge since July
The US and Germany are drawing battle lines on the streets of London in a row over the congestion charge.
Staff at the US and German embassies have not paid the charge since July.
The two parties are claiming diplomatic immunity under the 1961 Vienna Convention, which gives protection against paying taxes.
But London's mayor, Ken Livingstone, says the £8 toll for driving into central London is not a tax but a charge for a service.
A Transport for London spokesman could not give a figure on how much is owed but said the embassy had 100 registered cars in the fleet scheme - although not all of them are subject to the congestion charge.
Fines can reach £150 per car, per day for payments due for more than 28 days, which could mean fines of up to £15,000 a day.
We received a memo from Berlin several months ago which explained that the congestion charge is considered to be a tax
German embassy spokeswoman
A US embassy spokeswoman said: "We consider it a tax, and it is the view of the United States government that all direct taxes on diplomats and diplomatic operations, including this one, are prohibited by the Vienna Convention."
A German Embassy spokesman said: "We received a memo from Berlin several months ago which explained that the congestion charge is considered to be a tax and therefore diplomats are exempt."
He said it was only diplomatic staff with embassy vehicles who were not paying. British staff with private cars pay.
But a spokesman for the mayor said: "The congestion charge is not a tax. It is a charge for a service.
"All staff at the American embassy should pay the congestion charge, in the same way as British officials pay road tolls in the United States.
No privileges
"The congestion charging scheme gives no privileges to any VIPs, including the mayor, MPs, (London) Assembly Members or councillors, therefore we believe diplomats should pay."
Diplomatic staff from Russia, Japan and Spain confirmed they all paid the charge.
The congestion charge was introduced in February 2003 and has been credited with reducing traffic in the controlled zone by about 30%. Journey times have fallen by 14%.
From February 2007, the zone will be extended to include parts of west London.
The charge has faced criticism, especially from business groups which claim its has affected trade.
news.bbc.co.uk
The Americans and Germans are claiming diplomatic immunity under the 1961 Vienna Convention, which gives protection against paying taxes. However, the Congestion Charges are charges, not taxes, and British officials need to pay similar road charges in San Francisco.
The good news is that refusing to pay results in fines that can increase to a maximum of £15,000 PER DAY. So the longer the Americans refuse to pay, the bigger their fines will be.
---------------------------------
18th October 2005.
Road toll leads to diplomatic row
Embassy staff have not paid the charge since July
The US and Germany are drawing battle lines on the streets of London in a row over the congestion charge.
Staff at the US and German embassies have not paid the charge since July.
The two parties are claiming diplomatic immunity under the 1961 Vienna Convention, which gives protection against paying taxes.
But London's mayor, Ken Livingstone, says the £8 toll for driving into central London is not a tax but a charge for a service.
A Transport for London spokesman could not give a figure on how much is owed but said the embassy had 100 registered cars in the fleet scheme - although not all of them are subject to the congestion charge.
Fines can reach £150 per car, per day for payments due for more than 28 days, which could mean fines of up to £15,000 a day.
We received a memo from Berlin several months ago which explained that the congestion charge is considered to be a tax
German embassy spokeswoman
A US embassy spokeswoman said: "We consider it a tax, and it is the view of the United States government that all direct taxes on diplomats and diplomatic operations, including this one, are prohibited by the Vienna Convention."
A German Embassy spokesman said: "We received a memo from Berlin several months ago which explained that the congestion charge is considered to be a tax and therefore diplomats are exempt."
He said it was only diplomatic staff with embassy vehicles who were not paying. British staff with private cars pay.
But a spokesman for the mayor said: "The congestion charge is not a tax. It is a charge for a service.
"All staff at the American embassy should pay the congestion charge, in the same way as British officials pay road tolls in the United States.
No privileges
"The congestion charging scheme gives no privileges to any VIPs, including the mayor, MPs, (London) Assembly Members or councillors, therefore we believe diplomats should pay."
Diplomatic staff from Russia, Japan and Spain confirmed they all paid the charge.
The congestion charge was introduced in February 2003 and has been credited with reducing traffic in the controlled zone by about 30%. Journey times have fallen by 14%.
From February 2007, the zone will be extended to include parts of west London.
The charge has faced criticism, especially from business groups which claim its has affected trade.
news.bbc.co.uk