Classic American Rogue
Classic Englishman
Posted on 05/09/2006 4:20:09 PM PDT by conservative in nyc
It is the ultimate list of rogue states: the countries whose diplomats repeatedly refuse to pay the congestion charge stumped up by every ordinary motorist in London. And it is no surprise to the mayor, Ken Livingstone, that the serial offender topping the non-payment charts for the last six months is the United States, whose ambassador he memorably likened to a "chiselling little crook" for his refusal to pay the £8-a-day charge.
Narrowly ahead of other paragons of international respectability - Nigeria, Angola and Sudan - the US embassy racked up £271,000 in fines over the last six months, according to data released under the Freedom of Information Act. Oil-rich Nigeria and Angola clocked up fines of £202,150 and £127,150 respectively for their ambassadorial limousines, while Sudan, viewed as a rogue state by the US, ran up £94,250.
The US embassy made the decision not to pay the congestion charge in July last year, arguing it was a local tax and therefore, under the Vienna Convention, did not apply to foreign diplomats.
"It really is remarkable that the richest country in the world topped the congestion charge non-payers' league over the last six months," said Mr Livingstone. "The British government has clearly told the embassy that the congestion charge is not a tax, it is a charge for a service - reduced congestion - from which US diplomats benefit. British diplomats respect American law in the USA; United States diplomats should do the same in this country. By refusing to do so, they bring their entire government into disrepute."
Transport for London said it would continue to pursue the outstanding fines. The United Arab Emirates last month joined the majority of embassies in agreeing to pay the charge after settling on paying £99,950 of nearly £500,000 in fines.
(Excerpt) Read more at guardian.co.uk ...
Red Ken Livingstone, the mayor of London, is a chiselling little tax-hiking socialist. And The Guardian is an anti-American ultra-left wing rag, FWIW.
the USA is a rogue state...
While there is no excuse for abusing one's diplomatic status, how much larger do you suspect the US delegation to our most important and of longest standing, ally, is than those of Nigeria, Angola, and Sudan?
Just more left wing disinformation. Of course the left wing Brit media has long been the standard for which our own Dinosaur media aims.
Tell this to the guys/gals who came over there in '42 to bail out their miserable asses. Jawhol der Brits!
As I recall there was a similar story about a year ago about foreign diplomats not paying their parking tickets in New York. It's just diplomat arrogance and not limited to any nation. It's not like these fees aren't a write off, they are just being lazy.
Red Ken can go pound sand!
:-)
Red Ken should pay a constipation charge.
He is full of Sh--well you know.
Classic American Rogue
Classic Englishman
Don't know about other cities but there are many,*many* parking spaces in Manhattan reserved for cars with diplomatic plates (issued by the State Dept).
Red Ken,like the filthy,worthless Maoist he is,is grandstanding.Diplomats of *every* nation should just laugh when Red Ken tries to collect from them.Extension of the middle finger would be a nice added touch.
Does that mean we can get representation on the touchy-feely UN commissions like human rights?
Worked for others.
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