Corps news – Embassy 27 – July 2010

Traffic fines soar

London’s diplomatic missions owe more than £36 million in outstanding congestion charge penalties and parking fines, it was recently disclosed to Parliament.

Topping the list is the US Embassy with nearly £4 million in penalty charges, followed by Russia, Japan and Germany who each owe more than £2 million in fines. There are 57 missions and international organisations that owe more than £100,000 in penalties due to the non-payment of the congestion charge.

While most embassies claim the congestion charge is an illegal tax under the Vienna Conventions, about a third of London’s missions actively boycott payment.

London’s embassies also owe more than half a million pounds (£534,060) in outstanding parking tickets, with Kazakhstan owing the most in outstanding fines.