News

Irish drivers owe over £39,000 in unpaid parking fines in central London

Parking tickets under windshield wiper, close-up

FOREIGN drivers owe £1million in parking fines in Westminster - with France, Belgium, Germany and Qatar among the worst offenders.

Ireland comes in at number 8, owing a total of £39,090.

But when the figures are adjusted for size of populations - thus indicating the likely number of drivers from that country likely to be in Britain at any given time - Ireland shoots up to second place.

Only Qatar picks up more unpaid parking fines pro rata.

In terms of total amount of fines French motorists are the worst culprits, with almost £320,000 owed to Westminster City Council.

Occupying the next three places is Belgium on £81,000, Germany owing £68,000 and Qatar on £65,000.

Westminster Council pursues the debts through the equivalents of the DVLA in each of the countries concerned.

Because of the computerised systems this has become easier to do, but it can still be a lengthy process.

One driver told The Irish Post: “The reality is that if you get a parking ticket and you have an Irish-registered car, you are more or less immune.

"Same goes for speed cameras or bus lane cameras. I’ve never picked up a parking ticket in Westminster, but have had loads in other British cities and never paid any of them.

That also applies to the congestion charge in London. That may change with digital systems, but so far I’ve never heard anything from anybody over unpaid fines.”