London
The city of London has begun charging drivers a hugely unpopular fee of 5 pounds ($8) in a bid to cut down on congestion. Eight square miles of central London, including the busy City, or financial district, have been outfitted with hundreds of hidden cameras to photograph license plates. Drivers who haven’t paid in advance for a permit to enter the zone will be fined. Ken Livingstone, London’s Socialist mayor, acknowledged that levying a toll was a big political risk, but he shrugged it off, saying, “What’s the point of being in politics if you don’t do something?” His opponents claim it will further clog London’s already jam-packed buses and subways.
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