Huge Fines for Unnecessary Idling

When London's Mayor Boris Johnson started saying that he plans to make Britain's capital the greenest city in the world, some believed him, some did not. Most, however, were pleased to see what were the measures the mayor was thinking of when promising waves of fresh ozone over the heads of the capital Brits.

None, obviously, expected the mayor to come up with the following idea. How about, the mayor ask himself one night, giving those who leave their cars with the engine running, for no apparent reason, a fine that would sting them more than an angry bee?

Following this line of thought, the mayor sent a letter to Transport Secretary Philip Hammond asking him to raise the GBP20 fine ($32) currently in place for such a crime to a small fortune: GBP120 ($195).

According to The Telegraph, the bigger penalties, should they be approved by the British officials, will continue to apply to the piece of legislation passed in 2002 that allows authorities to fine all those who leave their cars running while parked.

A salvation may come, still, from the Transport Secretary himself, who promised when he took office that what most British drivers consider to be a war on motorists (starting and ending with the huge web of cameras across the island) will end.

“For us to consider a case for increasing the penalty, we need to see clear evidence of the level of non compliance,” a spokesman for the Secretary was quoted as saying by The Telegraph.

“If there proves to be an issue with non compliance, we will be happy to work with the Mayor on considering his proposal.”