Let's all become diplomats
 

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/london/4352520.stm

US embassy staff not paying their congestion zone tax. Livingstone
says it's not a tax but a "charge" and therefore not exempt from the
1961 Vienna Convention.

--
New anti-spam address cmylod at despammed dot com

Let's all become diplomats
 

Colum Mylod wrote:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/london/4352520.stm

US embassy staff not paying their congestion zone tax. Livingstone
says it's not a tax but a "charge" and therefore not exempt from the
1961 Vienna Convention.

--
New anti-spam address cmylod at despammed dot com

Has Mr. Kiley (sp?) commented on this?

A.

Let's all become diplomats
 

In article .com,
"Adrian Auer-Hudson" wrote:

Colum Mylod wrote:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/london/4352520.stm

US embassy staff not paying their congestion zone tax. Livingstone
says it's not a tax but a "charge" and therefore not exempt from the
1961 Vienna Convention.

--
New anti-spam address cmylod at despammed dot com

Has Mr. Kiley (sp?) commented on this?

Here's what I wrote when the charge came out:

Just because -they- call it a congestion charge doesn't mean -we- should.
It is nothing more than a clever way for OPACs to tax exurbanites.

It isn't a congestion charge because the the price is not related to the
amount of roads usage.

It is not a congestion charge because there are exemptions and discounts
based on residence location.

It is not a congestion charge because some of the money goes towards more
vehicles on the roads.

It is a POV excise tax with a special treatment clause for OPACians.
That there is no outrage shows just how far the NUTSO crowd have taken
over the process.

Inner London Auto Disincentive?
Yet Another Transit Subsidy?
Anything but don't call it smart growth and don't call it congestion
charge.

Let's all become diplomats
 

You forgot to mention that the Krauts are mixed up in this dispute too.
They charge British coach operators VAT to use their roads and their
police have powers to seize coaches not carrying a German VAT
registration certificate.

The office that's supposed to deal with the issue of these certificates
(Finanzamt Hanover-Nord) routinely ignores requests from British coach
operators for VAT registration forms - even if they are written in
German!

Perhaps the Krauts should sort that out before crying over the
Congestion charge, then they might earn a bit of tourist income in
Sterling that would enable them to cough up to Ken.

Let's all become diplomats
 

And hypocrite Cote will just as glibly rationalize the gas tax as a "user
fee".

Cote is a NUTSE (No Urban Transit Should Exist).

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"Robert Cote" wrote in message
...
In article .com,
"Adrian Auer-Hudson" wrote:

Colum Mylod wrote:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/london/4352520.stm

US embassy staff not paying their congestion zone tax. Livingstone
says it's not a tax but a "charge" and therefore not exempt from the
1961 Vienna Convention.

--
New anti-spam address cmylod at despammed dot com

Has Mr. Kiley (sp?) commented on this?

Here's what I wrote when the charge came out:

Just because -they- call it a congestion charge doesn't mean -we- should.
It is nothing more than a clever way for OPACs to tax exurbanites.

It isn't a congestion charge because the the price is not related to the
amount of roads usage.

It is not a congestion charge because there are exemptions and discounts
based on residence location.

It is not a congestion charge because some of the money goes towards more
vehicles on the roads.

It is a POV excise tax with a special treatment clause for OPACians.
That there is no outrage shows just how far the NUTSO crowd have taken
over the process.

Inner London Auto Disincentive?
Yet Another Transit Subsidy?
Anything but don't call it smart growth and don't call it congestion
charge.