Suhas Palshikar

A crisis of political courage


Suhas Palshikar

Obama 'fined for not paying congestion fee during UK visit'

Ads by Google
Print
  |

US President Barack Obama has been slapped with a fine of 120 pounds for not paying congestion charge in London during his state visit to Britain two months ago, a report said.

In fact, the US President was hit with the penalty for his motorcade not paying the congestion fee, sources reported.

London Mayor Boris Johnson had wanted the 10 pounds congestion fee to be paid for the President's armour-plated limo -- dubbed "The Beast" -- and all other cars during his state visit in May.

But cameras only managed to photograph one of the vehicles in Obama's motorcade as they were driving so close together. That is the subject of the 120 pounds fine, the report said.

Johnson is understood to have raised the issue with President Obama at a Buckingham Palace banquet during his state visit to the UK.

Foreign embassy staff owe 50 million pounds in unpaid congestion charge fines -- plus 491,000 pounds in parking fines and 566,000 pounds in non-domestic rates.

The US is at the top of the list with a five million pounds bill, followed by Russia on 4.4 million pounds, according to the UK's Foreign Office figures.

The US Embassy said it was not aware of a fine – and claimed diplomatic rules prevented it being issued.

Ads by Google
Please read our terms of use before posting comments
TERMS OF USE: The views, opinions and comments posted are your, and are not endorsed by this website. You shall be solely responsible for the comment posted here. The website reserves the right to delete, reject, or otherwise remove any views, opinions and comments posted or part thereof. You shall ensure that the comment is not inflammatory, abusive, derogatory, defamatory &/or obscene, or contain pornographic matter and/or does not constitute hate mail, or violate privacy of any person (s) or breach confidentiality or otherwise is illegal, immoral or contrary to public policy. Nor should it contain anything infringing copyright &/or intellectual property rights of any person(s).
comments powered by Disqus