US embassy refuses to pay traffic fees

Source: Agencies  |   2008-6-27  |     NEWSPAPER EDITION

THE US Embassy in London has failed to pay more than 2 million pounds (US$3,941,000) in traffic congestion charges, according to figures published yesterday by Britain's foreign ministry.

British legislators condemned US diplomats, after they topped a list of embassies refusing to pay the charge.

The list of fees owed by embassies showed that the United States refused to pay the levy 23,188 times between February 2003 and last month.

Japan has racked up the second largest amount of outstanding fees, owing more than 1.3 million pounds.

With the congestion charge, drivers must pay eight pounds per day to drive in central London during business hours.

"This is a perfectly proper charge and the failure to pay such a huge amount is not only extremely discourteous to the people of London and the country as a whole, but is undermining UK domestic transport policy," opposition Liberal Democrat legislator Norman Baker said.

US Ambassador Robert Tuttle claims the toll is a tax. Since diplomats are exempted from paying local taxes, he argues his staff shouldn't have to pay the levy.

Former London Mayor Ken Livingstone gained widespread media attention in Britain by calling Tuttle "a chiseling little crook" over his refusal to pay.

The levy was introduced in 2003 in a bid to reduce traffic, cut greenhouse gas emissions and encourage people to use public transport.

Michael Bloomberg, the mayor of New York City, tried to introduce a congestion charge there, but state legislators refused to approve the plan.