Congenstion Charging
Discussion
We all know that Congestion Charging comes into effect on Monday 17th February. There is one particular question I have not seen or heard being aired on TV or radio phone-ins about this topic - namely, the identification of non- British mainland vehicle number plates or other non-standard number plates. What I want to know is this - how are the following cars going to be identified and fined if the charge has not been paid?:
Cars with Northern Ireland plates
Cars with Channel Island and Isle of Man Plates
Cars with Republic of Ireland plates
Cars with other EU country plates
Cars with foreign non-EU plates
Cars carrying diplomatic plates
Cars carrying government or local government officials
Vehicles with miltary plates
The Queen's (and other Royal personage's)limmos
I also noticed when driving in the "blizzard" a couple of weeks ago that loads of drivers had not cleared snow from their plates. How would the congestion charge cameras cope with this?
Cars with Northern Ireland plates
Cars with Channel Island and Isle of Man Plates
Cars with Republic of Ireland plates
Cars with other EU country plates
Cars with foreign non-EU plates
Cars carrying diplomatic plates
Cars carrying government or local government officials
Vehicles with miltary plates
The Queen's (and other Royal personage's)limmos
I also noticed when driving in the "blizzard" a couple of weeks ago that loads of drivers had not cleared snow from their plates. How would the congestion charge cameras cope with this?
And is there a time limit under which they must have contacted the driver if they haven't paid. For example I have a company car that is leases through a leasing company, so it would take at least a week for them to find me and to find who was driving the car. Who is ultimately responsible for any fines - I have various other peope on my c. car insurance so it may not necessarily be me who would be driving.
I don't intend to pay any intention to the congestion charging when I go to London (as I regularly do)
I don't intend to pay any intention to the congestion charging when I go to London (as I regularly do)
The DVLA are confident that they will find the "right" people 90% of the time - according to a DVLA official on telly last night. Tough if you're in the 10% incorrectly identified.
There are also time limits each day to pat. Before 10.OO am it's £5, after 10.00 am it's £10.
Did you know that the computer system being used has been set up by the same people who set up the system for the CRB (Criminal Records Bureau) - and we all know how well that worked.
It looks to me that the "foreign" cars and trucks will be able to blissfully ignore these charges as offenders will never be traced. On the way back from Gatwick Airport last sunday, virtually every articulated lorry I passed on the M25 was registered in a continental country, many of them East European. There are lots of non-British vehicles on our roads.
>> Edited by eric mc on Friday 14th February 09:54
>> Edited by eric mc on Friday 14th February 09:55
There are also time limits each day to pat. Before 10.OO am it's £5, after 10.00 am it's £10.
Did you know that the computer system being used has been set up by the same people who set up the system for the CRB (Criminal Records Bureau) - and we all know how well that worked.
It looks to me that the "foreign" cars and trucks will be able to blissfully ignore these charges as offenders will never be traced. On the way back from Gatwick Airport last sunday, virtually every articulated lorry I passed on the M25 was registered in a continental country, many of them East European. There are lots of non-British vehicles on our roads.
>> Edited by eric mc on Friday 14th February 09:54
>> Edited by eric mc on Friday 14th February 09:55
I also noticed when driving in the "blizzard" a couple of weeks ago that loads of drivers had not cleared snow from their plates. How would the congestion charge cameras cope with this?
It is illegal at any time or place to drive with obsured, or otherwise unreadable plates.
If the cam,eras dont get you plod will
sparkey said: And is there a time limit under which they must have contacted the driver if they haven't paid. For example I have a company car that is leases through a leasing company, so it would take at least a week for them to find me and to find who was driving the car. Who is ultimately responsible for any fines - I have various other peope on my c. car insurance so it may not necessarily be me who would be driving.
I don't intend to pay any intention to the congestion charging when I go to London (as I regularly do)
I'm fairly sure the responsibilty would lie with your company (not the lease company) as they will clearly have a vested interest in ensuring the charge is paid by whoever is driving.
Dan
k off big spoilers on the back of our cars so the cameras can't read the person behind's plate 
Kevin, they get either a 90% or a 95% discount! On top of paying the highest council tax in the country!
Its been reported today that in a speech last night Red Ken plans to expand the zone by 300% by the summer if this is a success. Ken & Chelsea will be included in addition to a number of other boroughs.
Thank christ I am moving away from London, its going to be mayhem if he gets his way.
Matt.
Its been reported today that in a speech last night Red Ken plans to expand the zone by 300% by the summer if this is a success. Ken & Chelsea will be included in addition to a number of other boroughs.
Thank christ I am moving away from London, its going to be mayhem if he gets his way.
Matt.
It's a bloody stupid idea, but then, whn did that ever stop zealots like Red Ken, and AlistairDarling (also ant-car, and ex-Lothian councillor, hence the Edinburgh cc scheme).
It may help in central London, but it will sound the death knell for many other (smaller) city centres - London is different because so many people work in the City. In Sheffield, though there are lots of workers, the main reason to go there is to shop, or when travelling through to other destinations. Out-of-town shopping has already severely affected the city centre shops, and the result of charging will kill of city shopping. I read that in one European city, where charging was introduced, traffic reduced by 90% in one day!! Shopkeepers were horrified, unsurprisingly.
Let's face it, most places outside London will look upon it as another revenue generation scheme.
It may help in central London, but it will sound the death knell for many other (smaller) city centres - London is different because so many people work in the City. In Sheffield, though there are lots of workers, the main reason to go there is to shop, or when travelling through to other destinations. Out-of-town shopping has already severely affected the city centre shops, and the result of charging will kill of city shopping. I read that in one European city, where charging was introduced, traffic reduced by 90% in one day!! Shopkeepers were horrified, unsurprisingly.
Let's face it, most places outside London will look upon it as another revenue generation scheme.
Just for reference on the identification part. Yes, they are forecasting that 90% will be correctly identifies and 10% not.... but the system is set to fail safe. This means that if it doesnt identify you (i.e. 10%) they you get into central London for free...
Rather than take the risk of penalising someone who has paid etc, they take the reverse view and err on the side of caution. I mean, speed cameras arent perfect for example, just means that you were damn lucky.....
Cant catch all of the people all of the time, but if the deterent is good enough most will pay, and thats what they work off.
Cheers,
Paul
Rather than take the risk of penalising someone who has paid etc, they take the reverse view and err on the side of caution. I mean, speed cameras arent perfect for example, just means that you were damn lucky.....
Cant catch all of the people all of the time, but if the deterent is good enough most will pay, and thats what they work off.
Cheers,
Paul
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