algy Posted May 7, 2012 Report Share Posted May 7, 2012 Foreign embassies now owe more than £60 million in unpaid Congestion Charge fees, according to figures obtained by the Lib Dems on the London Assembly. The amount is growing by a massive £1 million every month - despite a recent London Assembly motion calling on Mayor Boris Johnson to call in the debt. I realise foreign embassies have diplomatic immunity but this is 'taking the proverbial'. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
inky pete Posted May 7, 2012 Report Share Posted May 7, 2012 If I could get away with it I'd tell Red Ken where to stick his extra tax on what I've already paid for too! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lt Kije Posted May 7, 2012 Report Share Posted May 7, 2012 New York has a similar problem, with members of the UN double parking, I hope the UK does not owe any money Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bazj Posted May 7, 2012 Report Share Posted May 7, 2012 I have a friend who runs a very specialist plaster repair company in London and works on the old plaster covings and decor in many of the oldest buildings in the city. He drives a 1965 Corsair which he has converted into a pickup and he has a few estates and other classic cars which he uses.... Classic cars do not pay tax and neither do they pay congestion charge!! A wise move I thought!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
observer Posted May 7, 2012 Report Share Posted May 7, 2012 IF they really want the money paying - start impounding the cars. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
algy Posted May 7, 2012 Author Report Share Posted May 7, 2012 IF they really want the money paying - start impounding the cars. Radical! never the less, an excellent solution. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lt Kije Posted May 7, 2012 Report Share Posted May 7, 2012 They cannot impound the cars, if the have diplomatic plates. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
observer Posted May 7, 2012 Report Share Posted May 7, 2012 So I guess you'll say they can't clamp them either? So if a diplomat commits murder on OUR soil, we can't do anything about that either? Just thought, they did, didn't they, when some Libyan shot that WPC from the Embassy. Perhaps we need to change the rules then? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bazj Posted May 7, 2012 Report Share Posted May 7, 2012 PC Yvonne Fletcher was the WPC shot by the Libyian..... the most disgraceful thing to watch was the Libyans walking out of their Embassy carrying bags which were known to contain the gun that killed her.... They should have machine gunned the lot of them.... not allowed in the world of international diplomacy though! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
observer Posted May 7, 2012 Report Share Posted May 7, 2012 Seems OUR Country is not ours. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lt Kije Posted May 8, 2012 Report Share Posted May 8, 2012 Tell you what Obs, if it makes you feel better blame the EU, it's not their fault but it's not stopped you in the past. Foreign Embassies in London or else where are not in our Country. Same goes for our embassies abroad. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
observer Posted May 8, 2012 Report Share Posted May 8, 2012 Strange - no one told the SAS that the Iranian Embassy "wasn't" " in this country"! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cleopatra Posted May 8, 2012 Report Share Posted May 8, 2012 Do you know that you are not allowed to smoke in the british embassy or consulate in any country because they classed as part of britain and britain has banned smoking in public places? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
observer Posted May 8, 2012 Report Share Posted May 8, 2012 Well the SAS certainly smoked 'em out of the Iranian Embassy! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Peter T Posted May 8, 2012 Report Share Posted May 8, 2012 Foreign Embassies in London or else where are not in our Country. Same goes for our embassies abroad. I think that depends on the state of the country that the Embassy is in. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
inky pete Posted May 9, 2012 Report Share Posted May 9, 2012 Strange - no one told the SAS that the Iranian Embassy "wasn't" " in this country"! The Iranians actually gave the SAS permission to enter their territory and rescue the hostages. Without that permission, we'd have been able to do nothing. An accredited diplomat has immunity from ALL the laws of their host country - whether they are a UK diplomat overseas or an overseas diplomat in the UK. The most the host country can do is to declare them personna non grata and expell them. The problem comes with the sheer number of "diplomats" - including extended family members, chauffeurs, gardeners and other staff - who are accredited to each embassy. It should be restricted to genuine senior diplomats only. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lt Kije Posted May 9, 2012 Report Share Posted May 9, 2012 Completly agree inky Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nick Tessla Posted May 14, 2012 Report Share Posted May 14, 2012 The congestion charge is not a fine it is a charge (equivalent to the fee for crossing the Warburton toll bridge, to get parochial about it). Not payin g it is not the same as refusing to pay a parking fine for parking on double yellows outside a restaurant - it is the equivalent of refusing to pay for the meal you have eaten in the reataurant. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lt Kije Posted May 14, 2012 Report Share Posted May 14, 2012 Nick who do you arrest for non payment, when the people have immunity. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nick Tessla Posted May 15, 2012 Report Share Posted May 15, 2012 Nick who do you arrest for non payment, when the people have immunity. I was not addressing the practicality just the misnomer of "fines" in the case of the congestion charge. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bazj Posted May 15, 2012 Report Share Posted May 15, 2012 I was not addressing the practicality just the misnomer of "fines" in the case of the congestion charge. You sound like a Labour politician.... quick to criticise and complain about an issue... but no ideas of your own on how to solve the problem!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nick Tessla Posted May 15, 2012 Report Share Posted May 15, 2012 You sound like a Labour politician.... quick to criticise and complain about an issue... but no ideas of your own on how to solve the problem!! Try decaff Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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