LONDON — The U.S. embassy in London has racked up more than £14 million in unpaid traffic charges, the most of any embassy in the U.K. capital, official figures show.
A freedom of information release by Transport for London (TfL), responsible for the transport network in the city, found that the American embassy had accumulated debts of £14.6 million ($18.6 million) over 20 years, when the capital’s congestion charge was brought in.
London’s congestion charge was introduced to ease traffic in the busy city. It’s a daily fee that applies to most vehicles between 7 a.m. and 6 p.m. on weekdays and 12 p.m. to 6 p.m. at weekends.
TfL said in a statement that while most embassies in London pay their fees, “a stubborn minority … refuse to do so, despite our representations through diplomatic channels.”
