London congestion charge hits some bumps

The fee now imposed on those driving into central London has not been without its problems, as this Telegraph article recounts:

A museum's 105-year-old Daimler that has not been on the road since 1947 has had a penalty notice for evading Ken Livingstone's congestion charge in London.

The veteran car, with the number plate Y99 and a maximum speed of 15mph, was said to have been driven into the capital at 8.15 on the morning of Feb 17 without paying the £5 charge. "We were surprised to get the paperwork because the Daimler has not moved under its own power for decades," said Andrew King, curator of the Bristol Industrial Museum, where the car has been on display for 25 years.

The notice said the car had been seen at Elephant and Castle/London Road. "The contravention is supported by a number of evidential images." Up to 17 days are allowed for payment of £40, rising to £80 for non-payment. . .

Transport for London said: "It would be ridiculous to expect there are not going to be individual errors."

More to the point would be the question of how many errors, and how easily they may be cleared up. The Independent, meanwhile, notes:

Criminals are "cloning" car number plates and putting them on their own vehicles to avoid the London congestion charge, the scheme's administrators said yesterday.

Dozens of people who have never driven in London are understood to have received fines of up to £80 from Transport for London (TfL).

Posted by David on February 27, 2003 10:39 AM