Transport for London (TfL), the governing body for transportation in the city, has just published a list of embassies with outstanding Congestion Charge debts accumulated from 2003 to 2023. The table details the total sum owed by each embassy, raising questions about how these charges are calculated and the potential consequences.
What are Congestion Charges?
London, a major city in the United Kingdom, has a recurring traffic congestion problem. To address this, Transport For London implemented a congestion charge, a fee levied on most vehicles entering a designated central area during weekdays and specific weekend hours. This discourages unnecessary driving and aims to keep traffic flowing. It also encourages people to use public transport i.e ride the tube or bus.
London’s Congestion Charge: How Much Do Embassies Owe?
The Congestion Charge is a £15 daily charge for people driving within the Congestion Charge zone between 7 am to 6 pm on Monday and 12 pm to -18pm on Saturdays, Sundays, and bank holidays excluding Christmas Day and New Year. The total owed by embassies amounts to a whooping £108, 683, 383.
Based on vehicle entries, the exact sum for each embassy likely reflects the frequency of their vehicles entering the zone during charging hours. The Nigerian embassy owing over eight million pounds represents the total congestion charge accrued by all their authorized vehicles entering the zone over the specified period.
Likely Repercussions
It does seem like the TfL is rather pissed off by these debts, with the US embassy having the highest debt in numbers, and threatening to take ‘legal steps’ on the international front. This suggests they might sue embassies refusing to pay up. However, the embassies might argue for their exemption from local laws, including the congestion charge.
The ICJ would determine if the congestion charge qualifies as a service charge embassies must pay for using London’s infrastructure or a tax they are immune from. A ruling favoring TfL would set a precedent for other cities with congestion charges and diplomatic missions.
It is also good to note that the congestion charge is completely unrelated to immigration procedures for individuals. Immigration policies and visa applications are handled by the UK government’s Home Office, a separate entity from TfL.