The figure is £1.3 million ($2 million) in congestion zone fees and £1,880 ($2,800) in parking fines. Sizable as this is, the total bill for unpaid congestion charges by all foreign diplomats working London has reached £87.4 million ($136 million.) These figures have come from an annual report made by the U.K. government.
The largest sum is owed by the U.S., which has clocked up a staggering £9.4 million ($15 million). The U.S. refuses to pay, claiming that it has diplomatic immunity. The sums here mainly relate to the congestion zone. The congestion zone — or Congestion Charge Zone — is an area covering central London where a daily fee is levied on vehicles wishing to enter. The zone operates throughout Central London between 7 a.m. and 6 p.m. Mondays to Fridays. The charge aims to reduce high traffic flow, deterring some vehicles from entering the capital city and encouraging people to use public transport, the latter being an example of nudge (or behavioral) economics.
In terms of parking fine, Nigeria is the biggest debtor, owing £50,000 ($75,000).
Hidden among the fees are some more serious crimes, the BBC has found out. In the same report, in 2014 there were 14 “serious and significant offences” committed by people entitled to diplomatic immunity. Each of these would have carried at least 12 months imprisonment had the courts been able to prosecute the perpetrators. In the U.K., around 22,000 people have diplomatic immunity.
