Boris fined for not paying 'wretched' congestion charge
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http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/newstopics/borisjo...
Boris Johnson fined for not paying 'wretched' congestion charge
London Mayor Boris Johnson described the capital's congestion charge system as "wretched" and "crazy" after admitting that he was fined for not paying it on time.
By Murray Wardrop
Last Updated: 1:25AM GMT 09 Jan 2009
The gaffe-prone Tory said he had been "done by my own system" after forgetting to pay the £8 fee for driving into central London.
Johnson, 44, admitted he had been stung with a £60 fine for failing to cough up within two days and said his experience highlighted the need for an "account-based" charging system.
The revelation came in response to a question from a listener during a radio phone-in.
The former Henley MP was reminded about a promise he had made about increasing the time period allowed for paying the charge to a month.
Speaking on Vanessa Feltz's BBC London show, Johnson said: "You are absolutely right, I did say that. I had totally forgotten that."
He said he was a "victim of this wretched system only the other day" when he drove to light the Hanukkah Menorah in a ceremony at Trafalgar Square on December 22.
Johnson, who often rides his bicycle around the capital, added: "I forgot to pay and then 'bing', I got the £60 fine which I have just coughed up."
He said a new "account-based system" would be introduced when new technology becomes available.
"That would get away from the crazy system whereby you suddenly get clobbered by these fines," he said.
In November, Mr Johnson announced that the western extension of the London congestion charge area would be scrapped.
The Mayor said he would take the necessary legal steps to axe the extension, which includes areas such as Kensington and Chelsea, but the earliest it could be removed is spring 2010.
The congestion charge, originally covering just central London, was introduced in February 2003, with the western extension added in February 2007.
The charge for cars entering the zone was originally £5 but rose to £8 in July 2005.
Motorists who forget to pay on the day of travelling into the zone can get away with a £10 charge, as long as they settle up by the end of the next day.
After this, they are issued a £120 fine, which is reduced to £60 if it is paid within 14 days.
Boris Johnson fined for not paying 'wretched' congestion charge
London Mayor Boris Johnson described the capital's congestion charge system as "wretched" and "crazy" after admitting that he was fined for not paying it on time.
By Murray Wardrop
Last Updated: 1:25AM GMT 09 Jan 2009
The gaffe-prone Tory said he had been "done by my own system" after forgetting to pay the £8 fee for driving into central London.
Johnson, 44, admitted he had been stung with a £60 fine for failing to cough up within two days and said his experience highlighted the need for an "account-based" charging system.
The revelation came in response to a question from a listener during a radio phone-in.
The former Henley MP was reminded about a promise he had made about increasing the time period allowed for paying the charge to a month.
Speaking on Vanessa Feltz's BBC London show, Johnson said: "You are absolutely right, I did say that. I had totally forgotten that."
He said he was a "victim of this wretched system only the other day" when he drove to light the Hanukkah Menorah in a ceremony at Trafalgar Square on December 22.
Johnson, who often rides his bicycle around the capital, added: "I forgot to pay and then 'bing', I got the £60 fine which I have just coughed up."
He said a new "account-based system" would be introduced when new technology becomes available.
"That would get away from the crazy system whereby you suddenly get clobbered by these fines," he said.
In November, Mr Johnson announced that the western extension of the London congestion charge area would be scrapped.
The Mayor said he would take the necessary legal steps to axe the extension, which includes areas such as Kensington and Chelsea, but the earliest it could be removed is spring 2010.
The congestion charge, originally covering just central London, was introduced in February 2003, with the western extension added in February 2007.
The charge for cars entering the zone was originally £5 but rose to £8 in July 2005.
Motorists who forget to pay on the day of travelling into the zone can get away with a £10 charge, as long as they settle up by the end of the next day.
After this, they are issued a £120 fine, which is reduced to £60 if it is paid within 14 days.
Justin_Tvr said:
Puggit said:
I'm not sure why the technology for an account based system is not available now!?
Im sure there is, but how else would they be able to rob us of their fines if there were such a system?
Everyone makes mistakes - he paid up - what is the deal?
If he tried to manipulate and avoid payment by using his position, well that would be a story, but its not and our illustrious media are trying to make a mountain out of a mole hill. The company my wife works for had 3 CC charges in December - they forgot to pay the bills and even use a GPS driven automated system to warn them, but they forgot anyway.
If he tried to manipulate and avoid payment by using his position, well that would be a story, but its not and our illustrious media are trying to make a mountain out of a mole hill. The company my wife works for had 3 CC charges in December - they forgot to pay the bills and even use a GPS driven automated system to warn them, but they forgot anyway.
- BREAKING NEWS **
- BREAKING NEWS ENDS **
Oh god!
If they go ahead with this we are in big trouble (well people who go to London are)
This means an new "state-of-the-art" computer system that will either;
A) Cost 20 million
B) Be late
C) Not work
d) All of the above
Incidentaly, did you no that the City of London (as in the square mile) has the biggest commuting population of any city in the world, some 340,000 people arriving for work every day! (only 9,000 permanent residents)
If they go ahead with this we are in big trouble (well people who go to London are)
This means an new "state-of-the-art" computer system that will either;
A) Cost 20 million
B) Be late
C) Not work
d) All of the above
Incidentaly, did you no that the City of London (as in the square mile) has the biggest commuting population of any city in the world, some 340,000 people arriving for work every day! (only 9,000 permanent residents)
The 'Ken-gestion' Charge was mostly a way to persecute the motorist, foisted on us by a rather bitter communist, and it does absolutely sweet FA to help London's transport. It should be thrown out. It can only be a good thing that the 'Man who can' in this case has been clobbered just like the rest of us.
£60 fine for forgetting to pay is an utter outrage. I forget to pay about 4 or 5 times a year, I'm happy to pay the £8 charge, don't see how they can justify an increase by £52 for not remembering for 24 hours.
I have complained countless times to TFL, you just get a generic email. Or as once happened the TFL operative explained the reason was, "two words" "Ken Livingstone" and that was after Boris was elected.
I have complained countless times to TFL, you just get a generic email. Or as once happened the TFL operative explained the reason was, "two words" "Ken Livingstone" and that was after Boris was elected.
GTIR said:
Incidentaly, did you no that the City of London (as in the square mile) has the biggest commuting population of any city in the world, some 340,000 people arriving for work every day! (only 9,000 permanent residents)
no s
t, or did you think everyone slept under their desks?Puggit said:
Justin_Tvr said:
Puggit said:
I'm not sure why the technology for an account based system is not available now!?
Im sure there is, but how else would they be able to rob us of their fines if there were such a system?hugoagogo said:
GTIR said:
Incidentaly, did you no that the City of London (as in the square mile) has the biggest commuting population of any city in the world, some 340,000 people arriving for work every day! (only 9,000 permanent residents)
no st, or did you think everyone slept under their desks?Simpo Two said:
'By Murray Wardrop
Last Updated: 1:25AM GMT 09 Jan 2009
The gaffe-prone Tory'
Yawn. Why do they never talk of Gordon Brown as 'gaffe-prone socialist'? He's wreaking far more havoc than Boris.
Because he's not a socialist? He may of been 20 years ago but certainly not now.Last Updated: 1:25AM GMT 09 Jan 2009
The gaffe-prone Tory'
Yawn. Why do they never talk of Gordon Brown as 'gaffe-prone socialist'? He's wreaking far more havoc than Boris.
sleep envy said:
Puggit said:
Justin_Tvr said:
Puggit said:
I'm not sure why the technology for an account based system is not available now!?
Im sure there is, but how else would they be able to rob us of their fines if there were such a system?The technology is already there.
The code probably says
input from camera'Reg xxxxxx' entered zone= true
Update billing table with reg number
12 hours later batch job runs
Check payment table where Reg = xxxxxx
if payment = false print fine
End if
All you need to do is change it to
if payment = false print invoice value = £8
And if you want pre-pay ala Oyser card
When Reg enters zone
Deduct £8 from Customer account
I really can't see the problem
The code probably says
input from camera'Reg xxxxxx' entered zone= true
Update billing table with reg number
12 hours later batch job runs
Check payment table where Reg = xxxxxx
if payment = false print fine
End if
All you need to do is change it to
if payment = false print invoice value = £8
And if you want pre-pay ala Oyser card
When Reg enters zone
Deduct £8 from Customer account
I really can't see the problem
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