Three strikes--and your car is out!
Date: 2002-09-23
Starting in February, clamping teams will patrol London's streets seeking out vehicles whose owners have ignored three or more £80 (about US $124) penalty notices for not paying the city's congestion charge. Three-time offender's cars will be impounded. The £5 daily toll for driving in Central London was recently introduced to reduce traffic in the city's core. A network of cameras monitoring the charging zone will alert operators when a toll evader enters the zone. Tow trucks will be sent to catch culprits.
London's transport authority, is paying the enforcement team a performance incentive. The enforcement team (being recruited by National Car Parks under a £14 million five-year contract signed last week) will include four sets of bailiffs who will be able to seize cars anywhere in Greater London. The £5 toll applies to eight square miles of Central London, bounded by Park Lane, Euston Road, Tower Bridge and Elephant and Castle. However, London mayor Ken Livingstone has obtained powers to target evaders across the 33 London boroughs. A motorist parked legally outside his home in Enfield could see his car being towed away if Transport For London's system says that he has failed to pay parking charges three times.
- Drivers.com on traffic
- Drivers will pay to enter London--Feb '02 article
- The future of traffic and congestion
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