US Embassy in London refuses to pay $18.6 mn congestion charge

According to CNN, the LUS embassy in London is declining to settle over USD 18.6 million in unpaid congestion charges, as reported by Transport for London (TfL), which oversees the city's transport network.

The congestion charge, implemented in 2003 to reduce central London traffic and pollution, requires drivers within its zone to pay a daily fee of USD 19 on weekdays from 7 am to 6 pm and on weekends from 12 pm to 6 pm. TfL stated it will pursue all outstanding charges and is considering escalating the issue to the International Court of Justice.

The US embassy declined to pay up claiming diplomatic immunity from the fines, CNN reported.

"In accordance with international law as reflected in the 1961 Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations, our position is that the congestion charge is a tax from which diplomatic missions are exempt," a US embassy spokesperson said, CNN reported.

"Our long-standing position is shared by many other diplomatic missions in London," the spokesperson added.