"The beast," the presidential limo, during its recent trip to London.
As if things in London weren’t already in an uproar over the News of the World hacking scandal, which threatens to embroil senior government leaders, police officials, as well as the Murdoch-owned media. Now comes word the London bobbies are chasing American President Barack Obama.
Seems the commander-in-chief blithely let his security team drive all over London, during his recent visit, without coughing up the $16 daily “congestion charge” that the British capital has enacted in an effort to eliminate its endemic traffic congestion.
Never mind that he was there on official state business – and at the invitation of British leaders that included Prime Minister David Cameron. A fee is a fee, according to London’s Mayor Boris Johnson, who apparently used some of his brief time with Obama to remind him that he had to pay up.
For failing to do so, the White House will have to decide what to do with not only the original $16 charge but the $193 fine that London’s traffic authority has slipped under the windshield of the president’s custom-made Cadillac limo – which is known affectionately as “the beast.”
If the administration protests, the London authorities reveal they captured images of the beast’s transgressions on the many roadside camera systems that monitor every vehicle coming into London.
A surprising number try to skip the charge, which is levied on anyone not living in the city or purchasing a special pass. But the biggest transgressors, London papers report, are foreign officials. In fact, the various diplomatic missions to the United Kingdom reportedly owe the city close to $100 million on unpaid congestion charges.
The U.S., apparently, now has a back bill of $160,000. But the president should consider himself lucky. For reasons unknown, London officials have decided to pursue the fee and levy a fine only on the beast. They’re letting the rest of the president’s extensive motorcade slide.
Of course, there could be some more fines to come once the Brits figure out how much the administration should have paid for parking outside the Prime Minister’s residence at 10 Downing Street, never mind the valet service at Buckingham Palace.