Break the law and save money

DaveLister22

Recently I was driving in toward London and got lost. I tried to turn around but could not without committing an offence. After going through several junctions I eventually was faced with a stark choice either commit an offence, and turn right illegally, or enter the conjestion zone. As it turns out, being a law abiding citizen, I made the wrong choice, and entered the congestion zone. I was later fined £80 for entering the zone and the excuse of being lost and not wanting to commit an offence was not accepted. You can try to appeal, but I had no valid grounds. I just looked up the fine for illegally turning right and it's £50, so I could have saved £30 by deliberately committing an offence. Such are the rules in this country that honest men are penalised, and in effect not knowing the rules in detail is also punished.

KeithP

Having knowingly and consciously made the decision to enter the Congestion Zone, wouldn't it have made sense to pay the daily charge of £11.50 - thus saving yourself £68.50?

twhitehousescat

what is this "congestion zone" you speak about ?

DaveLister22

Because I thought, incorrectly, that not breaking the law would be a legitimate excuse. I was only in the zone for less than 5 minutes but that's not an excuse either. I have since checked the route I took and once off the expressway it was impossible to not enter the zone without performing an illegal right turn. The suspicion is that transport for London have designed the road system deliberately to force you to enter the zone. I also discovered too late that you only have 24 hours to pay the £11.50 if not paid in advance.

Johno100

twhitehousescat wrote: »

what is this "congestion zone" you speak about ?

This:- https://tfl.gov.uk/modes/driving/congestion-charge/congestion-charge-zone

I'd thought most people, even those who never visit London, would have heard of it.

The_Slithy_Tove

Johno100 wrote: »

This:- I'd thought most people, even those who never visit London, would have heard of it.

I'm guessing the question was tongue-in-cheek from someone who lives nowhere near London and/or never has to bother themselves with such things.

fisherjim

It could be argued that as the congestion zone is to avoid 1 congestion 2 cut down pollution in the central area your actions added to both so you needed to pay your dues, and better planning or a sat nav would have avoided this costly mistake.


Anyway any thoughts of appealing on your arguments will be futile and tfl trying to contrive to make money nooooo! The whole sorry system is also managed by that pillar of respectable enterprise Crapita!

D_P_Dance

What is a sat nav?

unforeseen

D_P_Dance wrote: »

What is a sat nav?

It's like a wife. It tells you where to go and nags you if you don't follow it's directions

twhitehousescat

D_P_Dance

WRT the relative cost of breaking the Law, it is often cheaper to mug an O.A.P. than to take your child out of school during term time.