Car Insurance
US embassy refuses C-charge payout
Tue, 16 May 2006
The US embassy in London has refused to pay the congestion charge as a matter of principle because the ambassador claims diplomats should be exempt from such charges.
US ambassador to the UK Robert Tuttle has declared that the £8 a day congestion charge is a municipal tax and, as such, foreign diplomats are exempt from paying it.
Staff from the US embassy have racked up an estimated £270,000 in unpaid congestion charge fines and the ambassador is continuing to claim immunity under the 1961 Vienna Convention.
Mr Tuttle told the BBC: "We need to take a principled stand. I'd like to see the issue resolved the way it is in Sweden, where diplomats are exempted."
However, London Mayor Ken Livingstone has dismissed his remarks and has hinted that he may consider suing the US government over the refusal to pay the charge.
A spokesperson for Transport for London (TfL) said: "The foreign secretary told MPs in November they had informed missions of their view that the congestion charge did not constitute a form of direct tax but was a charge analagous to a motorway toll and they were expected to pay."
Owning a car in the capital is becoming increasingly expensive as the city become more and more crowded. It is vital that motorists ensure they have full car insurance cover to ensure they are protected for all eventualities.
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