Obama‘s Limo ’The Beast’ Slapped With Congestion Fine in Britain
- Posted on May 27, 2011 at 10:37am by
Jonathon M. Seidl
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Obama‘s trip to the UK hasn’t really been a hit with the locals. Not only did the British media pan his speech to Parliament, but he was heavily ridiculed for his botched toast to the Queen. And now, the city of London has just slapped him with a fine.
The mayor of London announced that the president’s motorcade and his limo “The Beast” would have to pay a “congestion charge.” A 2003 allows the mayor to levy the fine for excessive traffic since the streets were technically closed during the president’s visit.
The London Evening Standard reports:
The Mayor told the Standard each car in the President’s motorcade will be billed for £10 – including the bomb-proof Cadillac. Mr Johnson also said he had a discussion with Mr Obama about the US embassy’s refusal to pay £5.3 million in C-charge fines.
But the embassy said its position on not paying the C-charge was “wholly in accordance” with a convention on taxing diplomats. Mr Johnson said: “Our roads were not closed during the President’s visit so his motorcade will pay. The Beast will pay the charge, I’m delighted to say.
“We didn’t charge the Pope when he was here because all the roads were closed, so the Popemobile was exempt. But this was different.”
Mr Johnson raised the issue of the US embassy’s unpaid C-charge bill with the President during a state banquet at Buckingham Palace. He said: “We had a very friendly conversation. Suffice to say discussions will be ongoing.”
A spokesman for the Mayor later said: “They already owe £5.3 million so it is probable the bill for the motorcade will just go on top of that.”
A number of embassies in the capital insist the congestion charge is a tax giving them immunity from it.
For the record, one British pound sterling equals about $1.64 U.S. That means each car will have to pay $16.41, and that the embassy’s total bill equals a whopping $8,698,360.00.
But a source told the Evening Standard the president and the embassy have no intention of paying the fines:
“We conscientiously abide by all UK laws, including paying fines for all traffic violations, such as parking and speeding violations.
“Our position on the congestion charge is based on the 1960 Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations, which prohibits the imposition of this sort of tax on diplomatic missions.”
I’m sure that will continue to strengthen the “special relationship.”



















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Comments (169)
David, the Constitutional Libertarian
Posted on May 27, 2011 at 11:04amGeez!
How bout some more Global Warming, Global Climate Change, Global Climate Disruption propaganda!
This is all this is, more propaganda. Got to tax evil humans because they are causing death to the planet. I am getting SICK and TIRED of the crap.
By the way, google Church of Climatology, NUMBER ONE ON GOOGLE BABY!
Report Post »ChiefGeorge
Posted on May 27, 2011 at 11:00amDuh? Its not BHO who pays the fine….its American tax payers…yet again he finds another side ways way to screw the US of A.
Report Post »compatriotshonor
Posted on May 27, 2011 at 10:59amDo you really think our supposed thin skinned POTUS gives a hoot about england and the fines. I say no, because of his liberation theology of hating colonialism, he has done a bang up job in the UK to destroy our long standing relations, all because of a serious sore spot he has with the treatment of his grandfather and the royal british military in kenya decades ago.
Report Post »I do know one thing. He will, in the end, do his very best to alienate britan, just like he is doing so with isreal, but for two different reasons except for one thing that both countrys have in common, that both have a history of colonialism, something he obviously detests.
So, it will be no surprise if the fines in england are not taken care of, because the POTUS truely does not care to begin with!
Gonzo
Posted on May 27, 2011 at 11:49amI think we will be OK with the British once this dunce is gone. They have a problem with him, not the American people.
Report Post »lketchum
Posted on May 27, 2011 at 10:56amFor a guy who wants to tax us on the gas we exhale normally and treat it as a toxin, he should not be surprised that another socialist gaggle wishes to impose such a fine.
Report Post »Sam Brown
Posted on May 27, 2011 at 10:55amIt is funny though. No wedding invitation so they crash the whole country with their presence. Hey barry time to leave, your not wanted because you are too low class.
Sam
Report Post »dizzyinthedark
Posted on May 27, 2011 at 2:39pmThis is what happens when you are brought up to become just a community organizer! No experience and low class. For the life of me I still don‘t understand how Moochelle is labeled ’fashion icon’!
Report Post »Gonzo
Posted on May 27, 2011 at 10:55amGood for the mayor and the British press, they seem to have more guts than our press does. Well, I guess it does takes some guts to stand so firmly in support of a total failure.
Report Post »lketchum
Posted on May 27, 2011 at 10:55amGawd… now we’re deadbeats, too!
Report Post »rambosharley
Posted on May 27, 2011 at 11:08amI was thinking the same thing, saw your post and busted out laughing!
Report Post »JGraham III
Posted on May 27, 2011 at 10:53amI am wondering what depths this bozo will sink and to what limit the democrats will go before even they decide he is too big a liability and dump him from the ticket for….Hilary!! The only other scenario I can think of that would be worse is that the republicans will once again self destruct and the Bozo will win by default..
Report Post »Gotta love the Brits, because of their wonderful way to stick it back for the snarky insults Obama has dumped on them.
Sam Brown
Posted on May 27, 2011 at 10:52amAnd he is in a country that doesn’t want him there. Yet he doesn’t have a clue.
Sam
Report Post »headbanger
Posted on May 27, 2011 at 10:52amCongestion, Constipation or just Full of SH$$……….they described him to a “T”
Report Post »inexiletill2012
Posted on May 27, 2011 at 10:52amThey were going to let this go………….
Untill O’s toast to the Queen……
Report Post »I.Gaspar
Posted on May 27, 2011 at 10:52amso for a few short moments “The Beast” was actually beastless.
Report Post »packrbackr
Posted on May 27, 2011 at 10:51amIts Ok if BO doesn’t pay the bill he will knowingly be a criminal in two countries now.
Report Post »Mandors
Posted on May 27, 2011 at 10:47amIt’s called diplomatic immunity. Or is the U.S. the only country who upholds this?
Don’t pay it, Barry. Oh, and nuke London, just for spite.
Report Post »Rickfromillinois
Posted on May 27, 2011 at 10:45amWow, it would seem that for some reason the U.K. doesn’t like us very much anymore. Is it us or just Mr. Obama? In any case this is not a good idea on the U.K.’s part. Two can play that game and before you know it countries are taxing or fining each other over everything.
Report Post »Mil Mom
Posted on May 27, 2011 at 5:34pmRickfromillinois
Report Post »Posted on May 27, 2011 at 10:45am
Wow, it would seem that for some reason the U.K. doesn’t like us very much anymore. Is it us or just Mr. Obama?
************
I don’t think “we” had a say in returning the bust of Churchill, and I know I never gave anyone an electronic device containing all my speeches;not to mention DVD‘s which aren’t formatted to play on European equipment.Maybe the rest of us might not be such a problem for the Brit’s, we may not all be expecting the windows to be replaced in Buckingham Palace and resident staff to be kicked out for ourselves and our entourage!
NOBALONEY
Posted on May 27, 2011 at 10:44amMayor Bloomberg is thinking that this might be a good idea for NYC, with all the President’s visits the city would be making easy money. Thanks Britain!
Report Post »lovenfl3
Posted on May 27, 2011 at 10:44amThis trip to Europe has been even funnier than National Lampoon’s European Vacation. Obama makes Clark Griswald look smart. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jiuk0tLj-I4
Report Post »I.Gaspar
Posted on May 27, 2011 at 10:43amThey should bill him on the GS charge, for general stupidity.
Report Post »They can’t contest that one.
W@nd@
Posted on May 27, 2011 at 10:42ammaybe they can offer to take back the bust of Churchhill….smack!
Report Post »BurntHills
Posted on May 27, 2011 at 10:42amobama hates, despise and insults Britain, no way he will pay that justified bill, not with the billions he is handing out to his anti-American anti-British anti-European muslim brotherhood buddies across the globe.
Report Post »kentuckypatriot
Posted on May 27, 2011 at 10:46amif he doesn’t pay the fine, will they arrest him the next time he goes to UK? Keeping my fingers crossed!!
Report Post »RightPolitically
Posted on May 27, 2011 at 10:41amWhat an embarrassment to US.
Report Post »forestnomad
Posted on May 27, 2011 at 11:09amWhat, the fact that this actually constitutes ‘news’?
Report Post »vennoye
Posted on May 27, 2011 at 2:25pmOh no!! Guess the love affair the British had with “The One” is now officially over…scratch one more place to retire him to! He is so good for our reputation…….don‘t you just love not paying the nations’ bills to the British…….because you are putting shrimp on treadmills and making robots to fold towels after 7 tries!! Let’s not even discuss embarrassment!!
Report Post »powhatan
Posted on May 27, 2011 at 10:41amNo problem for Obama…..we’ll have to pay the tab…he is exempt from everything…
Report Post »thecrow
Posted on May 27, 2011 at 10:40amhttp://michaelfury.wordpress.com/2008/10/09/the-protection-racket/
Report Post »MidWestMom
Posted on May 27, 2011 at 10:40amand the arrogance continues
Report Post »Not to mention the continuing idiocy….
MidWestMom
Posted on May 27, 2011 at 11:08am“and the arrogance continues” – I refer to the US government. Purposefully refusing to obey & respect the laws of other countries.
“Not to mention the continuing idiocy….” – I refer to Obama. His trip to the United Kingdom has been a comedy of errors.
Your childish & ridiculous reply proves you have nothing pertinent to say. Run along now and leave discussion to the adults.
Report Post »Sjah
Posted on May 27, 2011 at 1:33pm@JZS did u read the articale most of the money “owed was from C-Charge fines not the fine per car for snarling traffic. If your going to comment READ.
Report Post »Therightsofbilly
Posted on May 27, 2011 at 2:42pm@SJAH
This is not a criticism, but if you want JZS to see your comment, you will have to move it up into the thread area that he posted in.
And yes, he does tend to have a reading comprehension issue
Report Post »jzs
Posted on May 27, 2011 at 4:57pmGuys, it says twice “per car.”
This is confusing because the entire truth of the issue is hidden deliberately hidden from you to make this look like some huge thing about Obama. Please read this link to get a better understanding of the issues. Then you‘ll realize you’ve been duped by this website:
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-london-13565326
You can’t seriously believe that a the UK charged Obama $8,698,360.00 (that’s almost 9 million dollars) for blocking traffic. Think!
Billy, please don’t make fun of my learning disability, it hurts my feelings and makes me feel stupid.
Report Post »Therightsofbilly
Posted on May 27, 2011 at 7:12pm@JZS
See the post up above from GIVEUSJUSTICE
If I hurt your feelings, I’ll quote Belushi from Animal House when he smashes the kids guitar:
“Sorry”
Report Post »Dustyluv
Posted on May 27, 2011 at 10:40amToo bad we will have to pay for this too…Could they just keep him in jail over there if we refuse to pay the fine???
Report Post »kentuckypatriot
Posted on May 27, 2011 at 10:45amhahahahahahaha. now that’s funny! I’m sure the taxpayers will be paying for this. What a bozo. Impeach him now!! What an embarressment.
Report Post »TomFerrari
Posted on May 27, 2011 at 10:47amWay to go, big O!
“Smartest guy in the room?” Remember Enron? They had one too.
Obama surrounds himself with YES MEN, so nobody is objective enough to pay attention to these details. They are more worried about screening grannie than testing a route.
Obama does not want to hear the truth, only what serves his agenda (and George Soros).
Report Post »NOTAMUSHROOM
Posted on May 27, 2011 at 10:47amYou reap what you sow. Apparently The Marxist In Chief never learned that. Oh yeah, that‘s because it’s from The Bible.
Report Post »nzkiwi
Posted on May 27, 2011 at 10:53amThis is a big nothing. Egg on a few faces and amusing to watch. But nothing.
How could anybody attach this to the President. Seriously…
Report Post »PatriotsLikeMe
Posted on May 27, 2011 at 10:57amHaha, you stick it to him my fine, British brothers!! Show him the disdain you hold him in just as he showed all of you when he returned the bust of Winston Churchill. God Save the Queen!
Report Post »TexasCommonSense
Posted on May 27, 2011 at 10:59amThe UK needs the money. Their socialist government is running our of other people’s money. Have you seen their debt? Ridiculous.
http://usdebtclock.org/world-debt-clock.html
Report Post »poverty.sucks
Posted on May 27, 2011 at 11:02amI was in London when Daddy Bush attended NATO Summit, his motorcade was swift and didn’t snarl traffic in any way near what Obama causes.
Report Post »thegrassroots
Posted on May 27, 2011 at 11:02amAttn: Israel, Ireland, England, Et Al!
The United States of America Apologizes for the Resident-In-Chief. Please Bear With Us – America doesn’t like or respect BHO either.
We Americans Will Elect Our REAL President In 2012!
Report Post »D0ntTread0nMe
Posted on May 27, 2011 at 11:05amI would LOL, but I know that my grandkids just encored 1.50 more in debt so it’s not as funny as I thought it would be!
Report Post »http://www.mythoughtsfromthemiddle.blogspot.com
forestnomad
Posted on May 27, 2011 at 11:07amTheblaze says: “Obama‘s trip to the UK hasn’t really been a hit with the locals.”
Really? My friends back home in the UK have been quite impressed with Obama.
In addition, the Guardian, a UK newspaper, had this to say “Following what is being widely seen as a successful state visit, Barack Obama stood on the runway at a blustery Stansted airport and gave his wife a peck on the cheek before leaving for the G8 summit in Deauville, France. Michelle Obama is returning to the US.”
http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2011/may/26/barack-obama-leaves-uk-france
So basically, Faux news takes a dump, and y’all are the flies?
Report Post »poverty.sucks
Posted on May 27, 2011 at 11:11am@ForestNomad – You’re refering to the same media that stated we had it wrong when Gore lost the Presidential election. Go stick your head back into that paper.
Report Post »NOTAMUSHROOM
Posted on May 27, 2011 at 11:19am@Forestnomad
Jason! Jason Lee is that you? You’re such an adorable knucklehead!
Report Post »biohazard23
Posted on May 27, 2011 at 11:19amWow, they basically imposed a fine on Odumbo’s ego. After all, he has to have everyone else cater to HIM sine he’s the so-called chosen one.
Actually, if he and his administration hadn’t spent sooooooo much time deliberately insulting the British, they may have just waived the stupid fine.
Report Post »CatB
Posted on May 27, 2011 at 11:24am@Dusty ..
One can only hope …btw How many fines are owed in New York by U.N. members … If they collect this from us .. we should do the same to the U.N.
Report Post »BuckOfama
Posted on May 27, 2011 at 11:25amObama is a can’t…….
Report Post »ForgivenWretch
Posted on May 27, 2011 at 11:35amTo the Trolls: there are several things going on here. This IS something because it shows the disdain for the POTUS by the Brits. To slap him with such minutia shows it. His trip has been one complete embarrassment followed by many more. You Trolls know for a fact, this has taken “I can see Russia from my house” to a whole new level. If it were any conservative doing this, it would be on a loop on the MSM. Additionally, the POTUS refuses to pay the fine….he does as he pleases as proper procedures were not followed….again.
Secondly, the dollar is worth less than the pound.
ABSOLUTE EMBARRASSING EGOTISTICAL SELF RIGHTEOUS, SELF CENTERED, PIOUS, NARCISSISTIC JACKASS!
Report Post »BuckOfama
Posted on May 27, 2011 at 11:40amWhat are C-charges, a fee for taking moochelle???
Report Post »WorldDictator
Posted on May 27, 2011 at 11:44amO’ what a joke.
The American people
Report Post »need to send the O’jokes a bill
For their misapplication of our tax dollars.
banjarmon
Posted on May 27, 2011 at 11:45amHey is BO going to Poland??? If he does, they can keep him because he is acting Polish!!
Report Post »PATTY HENRY
Posted on May 27, 2011 at 11:54amIn your wildest imagination…would you EVER have believed that this dope could be THIS bad?
Report Post »I bet he is sorry he sent Winston back to them. Talk about a bull in a china shop!!!…except this is no bull…this is an hysterical rabbit, jumping from one problem to the next leaving a mess behind him.
pajamash
Posted on May 27, 2011 at 11:58amIs this the British way of saying, “We are so very tired of your boorish behavior Yank so plueez do not return”?
Report Post »Obama Bin Lying
Posted on May 27, 2011 at 12:02pmIs it 2012 yet?
Report Post »poverty.sucks
Posted on May 27, 2011 at 12:03pmObama on his way to the Poland getto to present himself as better than they.
Report Post »onejimharris
Posted on May 27, 2011 at 12:05pmGreat idea
Report Post »Thatsitivehadenough
Posted on May 27, 2011 at 12:15pmI’m jealous! The Brits have gotten so much ‘payback’ on him this time (payback for: iPod gift, return of Churchill bust, DVD’s, calling the French our best ally, etc). But we still have to wait until 2012, and we‘ll still have to pay for him for the remainder of his life plus all the bills he’s running up.
Lucky Brits!
Report Post »poverty.sucks
Posted on May 27, 2011 at 12:39pmObama is failing at his attempt for Honorary Knighthood.
Report Post »Anonymous T. Irrelevant
Posted on May 27, 2011 at 12:40pmThis should come out of Obama’s pocket, not our tax money.
Report Post »Ronko
Posted on May 27, 2011 at 1:13pmSounds like Britain is getting their revenge against Obama for the way that he’s been treating them since he got in office.
Report Post »jzs
Posted on May 27, 2011 at 1:19pmYou guys are clueless. For one, take this quote from above:
“For the record, one British pound sterling equals about $1.64 U.S. That means each car will have to pay $16.41, and that the embassy’s total bill equals a whopping $8,698,360.00.”
Let’s see what the calculator says. Hmmm. That would mean President Obama had 530,000 cars in his motorcade. Sure.
That’s beside the point though. The US, Russia, Japan, Germany and etc. have all refused to pay this tax passed in 2003. Ever. Five years of this bill is from embassy staff when Bush was President, a fact somehow omitted here (big surprise). The entire article suggests this is an Obama thing. Oh well, typical. For a list of the countries that refuse to pay this fine on diplomats, and have since 2003, follow this link to the BBC:
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-london-13565326
Report Post »101
Posted on May 27, 2011 at 1:34pmBO is one big embarrassment
Report Post »kindling
Posted on May 27, 2011 at 2:09pmGreat idea……I wonder how long he would have to be in jail to pay that fine……until 2020 perhaps?
Report Post »Linda_Callaway_FL
Posted on May 27, 2011 at 2:10pmGreat idea! Put him in The Tower of London! PresBO can sit up there in all his arrogance and look down on all the ‘little’ people that he just didn’t explain things to enough.
Report Post »cemerius
Posted on May 27, 2011 at 2:45pmIf this goes through how about the UN’s missions paying ALL their parking fines and such??? I guess Diplomatic immunity only exists when it’s against the USA?
Report Post »GODSAMERICA
Posted on May 27, 2011 at 3:17pmI agree, they need to arrest obama for fraud theft or however else he stole their money like he stole ours.
Report Post »outsidethebox
Posted on May 27, 2011 at 3:24pmFirst it gets stuck, now this. Maybe it’s time to get a new ride, how about it Obummer? Maybe you could get one of those fancy new green cars your always talking about.
Report Post »proliance
Posted on May 27, 2011 at 4:03pmI think we’ve already gone this “taxation without representation” issue. And we all know how that turned out.
Keep it up and maybe we’ll free Northern Ireland.
Report Post »Jaycen
Posted on May 27, 2011 at 4:09pmIf B.O. wasn’t so busy trashing Britain at every opportunity, maybe they’d overlook these minor issues in turn. We deserve this. We elected him.
Report Post »No1YaKnow
Posted on May 27, 2011 at 4:16pmWe are always on the hook for his exploits. Especially his botched ones. Maybe in the future, he’ll think twice about tossing our allies into the fire. Wait…..no he won’t. It’s not his money, he has never cared and isn’t about to start now.
Report Post »Mil Mom
Posted on May 27, 2011 at 5:21pmThatsitivehadenough
Posted on May 27, 2011 at 12:15pm
I’m jealous! The Brits have gotten so much ‘payback’ on him this time (payback for: iPod gift, return of Churchill bust, DVD’s, calling the French our best ally, etc). But we still have to wait until 2012, and we‘ll still have to pay for him for the remainder of his life plus all the bills he’s running up.
Lucky Brits!
Report Post »*************
As for paying for him for remainder of his life. Maybe we, too,will get lucky and someone will really decide to impeach and charge him with Treason, I‘m certain you’d be willing to pay for his stay in some prestigious Federal Prison wouldn’t you?
GiveUsJustice
Posted on May 27, 2011 at 5:29pm@jzs
You guys are clueless. For one, take this quote from above:
“For the record, one British pound sterling equals about $1.64 U.S. That means each car will have to pay $16.41, and that the embassy’s total bill equals a whopping $8,698,360.00.”
Let’s see what the calculator says. Hmmm. That would mean President Obama had 530,000 cars in his motorcade. Sure.
———————————-
“A spokesman for the Mayor later said: “They already owe £5.3 million so it is probable the bill for the motorcade will just go on top of that.””
I’m not sure how you are getting this confused.
Report Post »jzs
Posted on May 27, 2011 at 8:28pmGiveUsJustice, actually I’m not confused but I was happy to straighten some things out, especially anyone who bothered to follow the link. If you want confusion, read the other posts on the topic.
Here are a few things left out of the introduction to the thread here. The amount “owed” (according to the UK) is mostly due to the embassy staff. Left out was also the fact this debt started with five years remaining in the Bush administration and it’s a good assumption that most this debt accrued then. Somehow left was that Russia, Japan, German, Spain etc. also have very large “debts” of this kind.
GiveUsJustice, thanks for the polite response. But you and I both know this is about the huge elephant in the room. This article is so biased not only in what is says (like the line I quoted about the per car fee, and the total amount), but mostly by what it DOESN’T. Even the quote your mention was taken out of context, and most probably assumed “They” meant the Obama adminisitration, not Bush.
You can get less biased news from the National Enquirer. And you know it.
Report Post »ramburner
Posted on May 27, 2011 at 8:47pmGreat trip! He is always a “winner” huh? Yes, keep him in jail there until all fines are paid. I hope he rots in jail!
Report Post »Rightsofman
Posted on May 27, 2011 at 9:29pmWow. Since when do friends pull this s— on each other? Its not like we didn’t save their butts in my lifetime. We also backed them up in that pathetic display of how the mighty have fallen called The Falklands War.
Report Post »Rick54
Posted on May 27, 2011 at 10:04pmsorry, we have no money to bail you out
Report Post »BJColter Country Music Iconoclast
Posted on May 28, 2011 at 9:45amAnother un-earmarked $5 billion to bail out the Beast. Hm-m-m. Do you think this is the Beast of the Antichrist? Here’s a song about all that, y’all. Wrote it myself, compelled by Obama’s defiance of the GOD of Israel.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SqdufoUASMc
Report Post »Suzee
Posted on May 28, 2011 at 10:51pmgood one……but we are going to be paying for this manipulating ponzi-schemer for the rest of his life. From his college days to now, he always attached himself to those that would pay his way….now he has secured his future years on the backs of Americans whom he despises.
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