Hello, sorry about the double post, i've already mentioned my mishap in the "Holiday in Scotland" thread, but it a different problem really and therefore I'd like to post about it here again. Holiday in Scotland...Aftermath. THE MAN has got me...ya'see theyre making me an offer I can't refuse, I coughup somewhere between 200-1000pounds or else... While driving around a traffic jam on the M25, I passed through London. Never leaving the Motorway (welll, it LOOKED like a motorway anyway) I seem to have entered something called the "Low Emission Zone", a local regulation issued by the mayor of London somewhere 2008. Knowledge of this had not filtered through to my little corner of Germany, but this doesn't omid me from beeing an evil purpeptrator. I SHOULD have known about it, and I SHOULD have registered my vehicle on forehand...which I didn't because I was negligent enough to not know every local regulation of every city in europe I MIGHT get into. Anyway I got a nice, confusing letter, informing me that I'd be fined 1000 pounds, but through the great kindness of their hearts they reduce this to 500 pounds if I cough up immediately. Because I should have registered OR paid 200 pounds on forehand (again). Also I should still register. Consulting with the German AA, they say that registering afterwards MIGHT suffice. Or maybe paying the 200 pounds MIGHT suffice...or maybe paying the 500-1000pounds, but as I only have my nice, confusing letter and no invoice, there'd probably be extra incasso charges by whoever is handling this rubbish for Tranport for London. This would have been a rant, but as I know that certain German cities have a similar but even more complicated tomfoolery going, also requiering foreing visitors to declare their car ahead of knowing about this necessity, it's not. I'm registering the vehicle now (it complies) and... well we'll see, their letter doesn't mention registering afterwards, nor what happends in case one does. For clarification, (as to advice to simply not enter the country anymore) It's a 3.7 ton Campervan and is therefore considered a lorry for the LEZ And i am planning to go to Irelandthrough Wales somewhere in the next few years, and my parents might visit England with it as well. Besides, even without the Campervan, I'd get in trouble at border-control personally, wouldn't I? Just hope this registration works out.
Ugh. I came to this thread excited. Needless to say, my connotations of 'lez' were quite wrong. Sorry Xir, /Leaves
Ouch, that's a bit pricey. Not sure there's much you can do in this case, pay £200 and see if they let you off. Probably not though. Might've been a good idea to pay attention to the huge signs warning of a low emission zone etc on your way in, it is clearly signposted.
I am aware of the low emissions zone, you were driving some sort of camper van I take it, it does not apply to cars. By any other name it is a tax on HGVs and their cargo, people in London need these goods. That is a real bitch because I think the M25 is the border, probably so our government can collect these extra duties and catch out unsuspecting motorists such as yourself. I think if you can get away with the standard £200 charge you should take that option. Anything over you should complain or otherwise make them an offer. Not sure what would happen if you ignored it, I doubt we would try to have you extradited, more likely a standing kill order would be put on you if you should ever enter the UK again
it is...but when you drive by it it's a bit late to find out what the heck it means Not like they tell you on the ferry either. I got the extended info-package from the german AA...no mention of it. The Campervan actually has this on the front window to indicate it is indeed Euro-3 (and would therefore be exempt). Of course, while these regulations apply to all drivers, these stickers (or registration in the UK) is purely national. OOps, nope, the registration for the LEZ isn't even national, it's purely for London. Hurrah.
I'd write a letter to the UK authorities explaining your situations including what you have been advised by the german authority. I don't think they can expect tourists to know about the LEZ, (they may think you're some rogue European van driver transporting goods). In the worst case you could allways kick up a fuss about Britain not giving enough information for tourists (I think this will hit a sore spot but I could be wrong, and they may be forced to treat it as an international case) but that's a last resort..
Well I've registered. The LEZ help hotline sais that the letter is only a warning and can be ignored if not entering the LEZ again, but the letter actually says otherwise. I wish I'd taped the conversation with the LEZ hotline. Ah well.
