• Hundreds of thousands of EU citizens =?CP1251?Q?=91wrongly?= fined for

    From Jethro_uk@21:1/5 to All on Fri Jan 26 14:45:59 2024
    https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2024/jan/26/eu-citizens-ulez-fines- data-breach-tfl

    Hundreds of thousands of EU citizens were wrongly fined for driving in London’s Ulez clean air zone, according to European governments, in what
    has been described as “possibly one of the largest data breaches in EU history”.

    The Guardian can reveal Transport for London (TfL) has been accused by
    five EU countries of illegally obtaining the names and addresses of their citizens in order to issue the fines, with more than 320,000 penalties,
    some totalling thousands of euros, sent out since 2021.

    The Liberal Democrats’ transport spokesperson in the London assembly has called for an immediate investigation, saying the issue could damage the
    UK capital’s reputation as being open to visitors.

    Since Brexit, the UK has been banned from automatic access to personal
    details of EU residents. Transport authorities in Belgium, Spain, Germany
    and the Netherlands have confirmed to the Guardian that driver data
    cannot be shared with the UK for enforcement of London’s ultra-low
    emission zone (Ulez), and claim registered keeper details were obtained illegally by agents acting for TfL’s contractor Euro Parking Collection.

    In France, more than 100 drivers have launched a lawsuit claiming their
    details were obtained fraudulently, while Dutch lorry drivers are taking
    legal action against TfL over £6.5m of fines they claim were issued unlawfully.

    According to the Belgian MP Michael Freilich, who has investigated the
    issue on behalf of his constituents, TfL is treating European drivers as
    a “cash cow” by using data obtained illegitimately to issue unjustifiable fines.

    Many of the penalties have been issued to drivers who visited London in Ulez-compliant vehicles and were not aware they had to be registered with TfL’s collections agent Euro Parking at least 10 days before their visit.

    Failure to register does not count as a contravention, according to Ulez
    rules, but some drivers have nonetheless received penalties of up to five- figure sums. TfL said the fines were justified because it was unable to
    confirm whether foreign vehicles had contravened emissions standards if
    they were not registered.

    Has London’s Ulez become a magnet for conspiracy theories? – video
    Has London’s Ulez become a magnet for conspiracy theories? – video
    Some low-emission cars have been misclassed as heavy goods diesel
    vehicles and fined under the separate low-emission zone (Lez) scheme,
    which incurs penalties of up to £2,000 a day. Hundreds of drivers have complained that the fines arrived weeks after the early payment discount
    and appeals deadlines had passed.

    One French driver was fined £25,000 for allegedly contravening Lez and
    Ulez rules, despite the fact his minibus was exempt.

    Freilich has asked ministers to raise the issue during the current
    Belgian presidency of the Council of the EU. “This is possibly one of the largest privacy and data breaches in EU history, but so far no concrete
    action has been taken while responsibilities are being shunted on to drivers,” he said.

    TfL said that despite an absence of individual data-sharing agreements
    with EU countries, “local laws” allowed authorities to share vehicle
    owner information with the UK for the enforcement of traffic regulations.

    However, EU countries say national laws allow the UK to access personal
    data only for criminal offences, not civil ones. Breaching Ulez rules is
    a civil offence, while more risky behaviour such as speeding or driving
    under the influence of drink or drugs can be a criminal offence. This
    raises the question of whether Euro Parking can legally carry out its
    contract with TfL.

    Euro Parking was awarded a five-year contract by TfL in 2020 to recover
    debts from foreign drivers who had breached congestion or emission zone
    rules.

    The company, which is paid according to its performance, is estimated to
    have earned between £5m and £10m. It has the option to renew for a
    further five years.

    The firm is owned by the US transport technology group Verra Mobility,
    which is listed on the Nasdaq stock exchange and headed by the former
    Bank of America Merrill Lynch executive David Roberts. The company’s net revenue was $205m (£161m) in the second quarter of 2023.

    In October, the Belgian government ordered a criminal investigation after
    a court bailiff was accused of illegally passing the details of 20,000
    drivers to Euro Parking for Ulez enforcement. The bailiff was suspended
    in 2022 and TfL initially claimed that no Belgian data had been shared
    with Euro Parking since then. However, a freedom of information request
    by the Guardian found that more than 17,400 fines had been issued to
    Belgians in the intervening 19 months.

    TfL then claimed driver details were provided directly to Euro Parking by Belgium’s vehicle licensing agency. It has since told the Guardian they
    are obtained via a National Contact Point (NCP), a network of official information hubs for use by authorised agencies.

    However, the Belgian minister for transport has confirmed that data
    cannot be shared directly or indirectly for Ulez enforcement. Last month,
    the Belgian data protection authority began an investigation into how the information was still being obtained.

    Campaigners accuse Euro Parking of circumventing data protection rules by
    using EU-based agents to request driver data without disclosing that it
    is for UK enforcement.

    Last year, an investigation by the Dutch vehicle licensing authority RDW
    found that the personal details of 55,000 citizens had been obtained via
    an NCP in Italy. “The NCP informed us that the authorised users have used
    the data in an unlawful way and stopped their access,” a spokesperson
    said.

    The German transport authority KBA claimed that an Italian NCP was used
    to obtain information from its database. “Euro Parking obtained the data through unlawful use of an EU directive to facilitate the cross-border
    exchange of information about traffic offences that endanger road
    safety,” a KBA spokesperson said. “The directive does not include
    breaches of environmental rules.”

    Spain’s transport department told the Guardian that UK authorities were
    not allowed access to driver details for Ulez enforcement. Euro Parking
    has sent more than 25,600 fines to Spanish drivers since 2021.

    In France, 102 drivers have launched a lawsuit claiming that their
    details were fraudulently obtained. Romain Binelli, of the law firm Woog
    & Associés, who is representing the litigants, said: “The question is who could have accessed the information. Either Euro Parking and TfL have maintained their access to the vehicle database, which should have ended
    after Brexit, or they are paying someone to get the information. Drivers
    are receiving packets of 10 or more fines for monstrous amounts all at
    once, often well after the [deadline] date to contest them.”

    TfL, speaking on behalf of Euro Parking, said: “Any company working on
    our behalf is contractually required to ensure that data is processed in
    line with the relevant data protection legislation. We work closely with European Parking Collection to ensure all elements of the contract are
    being adhered to and have mechanisms in place should they not be
    fulfilled.

    “Euro Parking make it clear when they submit requests for keeper data in
    EU countries that they are acting on behalf of TfL, for enforcement of road-user charging in London, even when they route those requests through
    a third party. Euro Parking has not been prevented from accessing keeper
    data for drivers in EU countries.”

    Caroline Pidgeon, the Lib Dem London assembly member and transport spokesperson, called for an immediate investigation after the Guardian
    shared its findings.

    “It is extremely worrying to hear that TfL could be collecting its data
    from drivers unlawfully,” she said. “The extent of fines being issued to visitors from the EU, many incorrectly, demonstrates that the rules are
    not being communicated clearly to tourists, something which I have raised
    with TfL in the past only to be brushed off. If this issue is not solved urgently, it risks seriously damaging London’s reputation as being open
    to visitors.”

    --- SoupGate-Win32 v1.05
    * Origin: fsxNet Usenet Gateway (21:1/5)
  • From Roland Perry@21:1/5 to All on Sat Jan 27 08:35:25 2024
    In message <up0gj7$2ef14$7@dont-email.me>, at 14:45:59 on Fri, 26 Jan
    2024, Jethro_uk <jethro_uk@hotmailbin.com> remarked: >https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2024/jan/26/eu-citizens-ulez-fines- >data-breach-tfl

    Hundreds of thousands of EU citizens were wrongly fined for driving in >London’s Ulez clean air zone, according to European governments, in what >has been described as “possibly one of the largest data breaches in EU >history”.

    The Guardian can reveal Transport for London (TfL) has been accused by
    five EU countries of illegally obtaining the names and addresses of their >citizens in order to issue the fines, with more than 320,000 penalties,
    some totalling thousands of euros, sent out since 2021.

    The Liberal Democrats’ transport spokesperson in the London assembly has >called for an immediate investigation, saying the issue could damage the
    UK capital’s reputation as being open to visitors.

    Since Brexit, the UK has been banned from automatic access to personal >details of EU residents. Transport authorities in Belgium, Spain, Germany
    and the Netherlands have confirmed to the Guardian that driver data
    cannot be shared with the UK for enforcement of London’s ultra-low
    emission zone (Ulez), and claim registered keeper details were obtained >illegally by agents acting for TfL’s contractor Euro Parking Collection.

    In France, more than 100 drivers have launched a lawsuit claiming their >details were obtained fraudulently, while Dutch lorry drivers are taking >legal action against TfL over £6.5m of fines they claim were issued >unlawfully.

    According to the Belgian MP Michael Freilich, who has investigated the
    issue on behalf of his constituents, TfL is treating European drivers as
    a “cash cow” by using data obtained illegitimately to issue unjustifiable >fines.

    Many of the penalties have been issued to drivers who visited London in >Ulez-compliant vehicles and were not aware they had to be registered with >TfL’s collections agent Euro Parking at least 10 days before their visit.

    Failure to register does not count as a contravention, according to Ulez >rules, but some drivers have nonetheless received penalties of up to five- >figure sums. TfL said the fines were justified because it was unable to >confirm whether foreign vehicles had contravened emissions standards if
    they were not registered.

    Has London’s Ulez become a magnet for conspiracy theories? – video
    Has London’s Ulez become a magnet for conspiracy theories? – video
    Some low-emission cars have been misclassed as heavy goods diesel
    vehicles and fined under the separate low-emission zone (Lez) scheme,
    which incurs penalties of up to £2,000 a day. Hundreds of drivers have >complained that the fines arrived weeks after the early payment discount
    and appeals deadlines had passed.

    One French driver was fined £25,000 for allegedly contravening Lez and
    Ulez rules, despite the fact his minibus was exempt.

    Freilich has asked ministers to raise the issue during the current
    Belgian presidency of the Council of the EU. “This is possibly one of the >largest privacy and data breaches in EU history, but so far no concrete >action has been taken while responsibilities are being shunted on to >drivers,” he said.

    TfL said that despite an absence of individual data-sharing agreements
    with EU countries, “local laws” allowed authorities to share vehicle >owner information with the UK for the enforcement of traffic regulations.

    However, EU countries say national laws allow the UK to access personal
    data only for criminal offences, not civil ones. Breaching Ulez rules is
    a civil offence, while more risky behaviour such as speeding or driving
    under the influence of drink or drugs can be a criminal offence. This
    raises the question of whether Euro Parking can legally carry out its >contract with TfL.

    Euro Parking was awarded a five-year contract by TfL in 2020 to recover
    debts from foreign drivers who had breached congestion or emission zone >rules.

    The company, which is paid according to its performance, is estimated to
    have earned between £5m and £10m. It has the option to renew for a
    further five years.

    The firm is owned by the US transport technology group Verra Mobility,
    which is listed on the Nasdaq stock exchange and headed by the former
    Bank of America Merrill Lynch executive David Roberts. The company’s net >revenue was $205m (£161m) in the second quarter of 2023.

    In October, the Belgian government ordered a criminal investigation after
    a court bailiff was accused of illegally passing the details of 20,000 >drivers to Euro Parking for Ulez enforcement. The bailiff was suspended
    in 2022 and TfL initially claimed that no Belgian data had been shared
    with Euro Parking since then. However, a freedom of information request
    by the Guardian found that more than 17,400 fines had been issued to
    Belgians in the intervening 19 months.

    TfL then claimed driver details were provided directly to Euro Parking by >Belgium’s vehicle licensing agency. It has since told the Guardian they
    are obtained via a National Contact Point (NCP), a network of official >information hubs for use by authorised agencies.

    However, the Belgian minister for transport has confirmed that data
    cannot be shared directly or indirectly for Ulez enforcement. Last month,
    the Belgian data protection authority began an investigation into how the >information was still being obtained.

    Campaigners accuse Euro Parking of circumventing data protection rules by >using EU-based agents to request driver data without disclosing that it
    is for UK enforcement.

    Last year, an investigation by the Dutch vehicle licensing authority RDW >found that the personal details of 55,000 citizens had been obtained via
    an NCP in Italy. “The NCP informed us that the authorised users have used >the data in an unlawful way and stopped their access,” a spokesperson
    said.

    The German transport authority KBA claimed that an Italian NCP was used
    to obtain information from its database. “Euro Parking obtained the data >through unlawful use of an EU directive to facilitate the cross-border >exchange of information about traffic offences that endanger road
    safety,” a KBA spokesperson said. “The directive does not include >breaches of environmental rules.”

    Spain’s transport department told the Guardian that UK authorities were
    not allowed access to driver details for Ulez enforcement. Euro Parking
    has sent more than 25,600 fines to Spanish drivers since 2021.

    In France, 102 drivers have launched a lawsuit claiming that their
    details were fraudulently obtained. Romain Binelli, of the law firm Woog
    & Associés, who is representing the litigants, said: “The question is who >could have accessed the information. Either Euro Parking and TfL have >maintained their access to the vehicle database, which should have ended >after Brexit, or they are paying someone to get the information. Drivers
    are receiving packets of 10 or more fines for monstrous amounts all at
    once, often well after the [deadline] date to contest them.”

    TfL, speaking on behalf of Euro Parking, said: “Any company working on
    our behalf is contractually required to ensure that data is processed in
    line with the relevant data protection legislation. We work closely with >European Parking Collection to ensure all elements of the contract are
    being adhered to and have mechanisms in place should they not be
    fulfilled.

    “Euro Parking make it clear when they submit requests for keeper data in
    EU countries that they are acting on behalf of TfL, for enforcement of >road-user charging in London, even when they route those requests through
    a third party. Euro Parking has not been prevented from accessing keeper
    data for drivers in EU countries.”

    Caroline Pidgeon, the Lib Dem London assembly member and transport >spokesperson, called for an immediate investigation after the Guardian
    shared its findings.

    “It is extremely worrying to hear that TfL could be collecting its data >from drivers unlawfully,” she said. “The extent of fines being issued to >visitors from the EU, many incorrectly, demonstrates that the rules are
    not being communicated clearly to tourists, something which I have raised >with TfL in the past only to be brushed off. If this issue is not solved >urgently, it risks seriously damaging London’s reputation as being open
    to visitors.”

    Back in the Autumn I bought a new (to me) car because the old
    non-compliant one had broken down almost beyond economic repair, and I
    could foresee a need to drive in the ULEZ.

    Car #2 is clearly compliant from the data held by the manufacturers and
    DVLA - also being made about six months after the previous model was
    withdrawn from sale for not being compliant.

    Before I drove it in London, I used TfL's very own ULEZ-checker to make
    sure they agreed it was compliant, and they did.

    Imagine my surprise a week or two later when receiving a penalty notice
    for not paying the ULEZ charge. [And next day a second for the trip home
    on the following day] After some fairly acrimonious correspondence they
    finally agreed to "accept my representation" which was along the lines
    of "You complete and utter idiots..." Some people have said I should
    have asked nicely, but I'm totally convinced that would have been
    futile.

    They have refused my demand for compensation for the distress and inconvenience, on the grounds that "we never pay compensation". In
    a few weeks time I'll renew my efforts to pursue this matter, and my inclination is to repeat that I'll settle for the highest of the
    escalating amount [x2 obviously for the two days] their hectoring
    letters said I would owe them, if I didn't pay.

    Or should I try starting with a higher sum? The actual money I'll donate
    to a local hospice, so that's hopefully going to give their public
    relations team even more sleepless nights.
    --
    Roland Perry

    --- SoupGate-Win32 v1.05
    * Origin: fsxNet Usenet Gateway (21:1/5)
  • From Jeff Layman@21:1/5 to Roland Perry on Sat Jan 27 11:53:50 2024
    On 27/01/2024 08:35, Roland Perry wrote:
    In message <up0gj7$2ef14$7@dont-email.me>, at 14:45:59 on Fri, 26 Jan
    2024, Jethro_uk <jethro_uk@hotmailbin.com> remarked:
    https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2024/jan/26/eu-citizens-ulez-fines-
    data-breach-tfl

    Hundreds of thousands of EU citizens were wrongly fined for driving in
    London’s Ulez clean air zone, according to European governments, in what >> has been described as “possibly one of the largest data breaches in EU
    history”.

    The Guardian can reveal Transport for London (TfL) has been accused by
    five EU countries of illegally obtaining the names and addresses of their
    citizens in order to issue the fines, with more than 320,000 penalties,
    some totalling thousands of euros, sent out since 2021.

    The Liberal Democrats’ transport spokesperson in the London assembly has >> called for an immediate investigation, saying the issue could damage the
    UK capital’s reputation as being open to visitors.

    Since Brexit, the UK has been banned from automatic access to personal
    details of EU residents. Transport authorities in Belgium, Spain, Germany
    and the Netherlands have confirmed to the Guardian that driver data
    cannot be shared with the UK for enforcement of London’s ultra-low
    emission zone (Ulez), and claim registered keeper details were obtained
    illegally by agents acting for TfL’s contractor Euro Parking Collection. >>
    In France, more than 100 drivers have launched a lawsuit claiming their
    details were obtained fraudulently, while Dutch lorry drivers are taking
    legal action against TfL over £6.5m of fines they claim were issued
    unlawfully.

    According to the Belgian MP Michael Freilich, who has investigated the
    issue on behalf of his constituents, TfL is treating European drivers as
    a “cash cow” by using data obtained illegitimately to issue unjustifiable
    fines.

    Many of the penalties have been issued to drivers who visited London in
    Ulez-compliant vehicles and were not aware they had to be registered with
    TfL’s collections agent Euro Parking at least 10 days before their visit. >>
    Failure to register does not count as a contravention, according to Ulez
    rules, but some drivers have nonetheless received penalties of up to five- >> figure sums. TfL said the fines were justified because it was unable to
    confirm whether foreign vehicles had contravened emissions standards if
    they were not registered.

    Has London’s Ulez become a magnet for conspiracy theories? – video
    Has London’s Ulez become a magnet for conspiracy theories? – video
    Some low-emission cars have been misclassed as heavy goods diesel
    vehicles and fined under the separate low-emission zone (Lez) scheme,
    which incurs penalties of up to £2,000 a day. Hundreds of drivers have
    complained that the fines arrived weeks after the early payment discount
    and appeals deadlines had passed.

    One French driver was fined £25,000 for allegedly contravening Lez and
    Ulez rules, despite the fact his minibus was exempt.

    Freilich has asked ministers to raise the issue during the current
    Belgian presidency of the Council of the EU. “This is possibly one of the >> largest privacy and data breaches in EU history, but so far no concrete
    action has been taken while responsibilities are being shunted on to
    drivers,” he said.

    TfL said that despite an absence of individual data-sharing agreements
    with EU countries, “local laws” allowed authorities to share vehicle
    owner information with the UK for the enforcement of traffic regulations.

    However, EU countries say national laws allow the UK to access personal
    data only for criminal offences, not civil ones. Breaching Ulez rules is
    a civil offence, while more risky behaviour such as speeding or driving
    under the influence of drink or drugs can be a criminal offence. This
    raises the question of whether Euro Parking can legally carry out its
    contract with TfL.

    Euro Parking was awarded a five-year contract by TfL in 2020 to recover
    debts from foreign drivers who had breached congestion or emission zone
    rules.

    The company, which is paid according to its performance, is estimated to
    have earned between £5m and £10m. It has the option to renew for a
    further five years.

    The firm is owned by the US transport technology group Verra Mobility,
    which is listed on the Nasdaq stock exchange and headed by the former
    Bank of America Merrill Lynch executive David Roberts. The company’s net >> revenue was $205m (£161m) in the second quarter of 2023.

    In October, the Belgian government ordered a criminal investigation after
    a court bailiff was accused of illegally passing the details of 20,000
    drivers to Euro Parking for Ulez enforcement. The bailiff was suspended
    in 2022 and TfL initially claimed that no Belgian data had been shared
    with Euro Parking since then. However, a freedom of information request
    by the Guardian found that more than 17,400 fines had been issued to
    Belgians in the intervening 19 months.

    TfL then claimed driver details were provided directly to Euro Parking by
    Belgium’s vehicle licensing agency. It has since told the Guardian they
    are obtained via a National Contact Point (NCP), a network of official
    information hubs for use by authorised agencies.

    However, the Belgian minister for transport has confirmed that data
    cannot be shared directly or indirectly for Ulez enforcement. Last month,
    the Belgian data protection authority began an investigation into how the
    information was still being obtained.

    Campaigners accuse Euro Parking of circumventing data protection rules by
    using EU-based agents to request driver data without disclosing that it
    is for UK enforcement.

    Last year, an investigation by the Dutch vehicle licensing authority RDW
    found that the personal details of 55,000 citizens had been obtained via
    an NCP in Italy. “The NCP informed us that the authorised users have used >> the data in an unlawful way and stopped their access,” a spokesperson
    said.

    The German transport authority KBA claimed that an Italian NCP was used
    to obtain information from its database. “Euro Parking obtained the data >> through unlawful use of an EU directive to facilitate the cross-border
    exchange of information about traffic offences that endanger road
    safety,” a KBA spokesperson said. “The directive does not include
    breaches of environmental rules.”

    Spain’s transport department told the Guardian that UK authorities were
    not allowed access to driver details for Ulez enforcement. Euro Parking
    has sent more than 25,600 fines to Spanish drivers since 2021.

    In France, 102 drivers have launched a lawsuit claiming that their
    details were fraudulently obtained. Romain Binelli, of the law firm Woog
    & Associés, who is representing the litigants, said: “The question is who >> could have accessed the information. Either Euro Parking and TfL have
    maintained their access to the vehicle database, which should have ended
    after Brexit, or they are paying someone to get the information. Drivers
    are receiving packets of 10 or more fines for monstrous amounts all at
    once, often well after the [deadline] date to contest them.”

    TfL, speaking on behalf of Euro Parking, said: “Any company working on
    our behalf is contractually required to ensure that data is processed in
    line with the relevant data protection legislation. We work closely with
    European Parking Collection to ensure all elements of the contract are
    being adhered to and have mechanisms in place should they not be
    fulfilled.

    “Euro Parking make it clear when they submit requests for keeper data in >> EU countries that they are acting on behalf of TfL, for enforcement of
    road-user charging in London, even when they route those requests through
    a third party. Euro Parking has not been prevented from accessing keeper
    data for drivers in EU countries.”

    Caroline Pidgeon, the Lib Dem London assembly member and transport
    spokesperson, called for an immediate investigation after the Guardian
    shared its findings.

    “It is extremely worrying to hear that TfL could be collecting its data >>from drivers unlawfully,” she said. “The extent of fines being issued to >> visitors from the EU, many incorrectly, demonstrates that the rules are
    not being communicated clearly to tourists, something which I have raised
    with TfL in the past only to be brushed off. If this issue is not solved
    urgently, it risks seriously damaging London’s reputation as being open
    to visitors.”

    Back in the Autumn I bought a new (to me) car because the old
    non-compliant one had broken down almost beyond economic repair, and I
    could foresee a need to drive in the ULEZ.

    Car #2 is clearly compliant from the data held by the manufacturers and
    DVLA - also being made about six months after the previous model was withdrawn from sale for not being compliant.

    Before I drove it in London, I used TfL's very own ULEZ-checker to make
    sure they agreed it was compliant, and they did.

    Imagine my surprise a week or two later when receiving a penalty notice
    for not paying the ULEZ charge. [And next day a second for the trip home
    on the following day] After some fairly acrimonious correspondence they finally agreed to "accept my representation" which was along the lines
    of "You complete and utter idiots..." Some people have said I should
    have asked nicely, but I'm totally convinced that would have been
    futile.

    They have refused my demand for compensation for the distress and inconvenience, on the grounds that "we never pay compensation". In
    a few weeks time I'll renew my efforts to pursue this matter, and my inclination is to repeat that I'll settle for the highest of the
    escalating amount [x2 obviously for the two days] their hectoring
    letters said I would owe them, if I didn't pay.

    Or should I try starting with a higher sum? The actual money I'll donate
    to a local hospice, so that's hopefully going to give their public
    relations team even more sleepless nights.

    Was your claim for compensation made under The Protection from
    Harassment Act 1997 or something else? I see from point 11 at <https://www.london.gov.uk/who-we-are/governance-and-spending/sharing-our-information/foi-disclosure-log/foi-mayor-londons-legal-status-oct-2023>,
    the question seems to be avoided by giving reference to an answer to
    another question.

    --

    Jeff

    --- SoupGate-Win32 v1.05
    * Origin: fsxNet Usenet Gateway (21:1/5)
  • From JNugent@21:1/5 to Roland Perry on Sat Jan 27 22:27:12 2024
    On 27/01/2024 08:35 am, Roland Perry wrote:
    In message <up0gj7$2ef14$7@dont-email.me>, at 14:45:59 on Fri, 26 Jan
    2024, Jethro_uk <jethro_uk@hotmailbin.com> remarked:
    https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2024/jan/26/eu-citizens-ulez-fines-
    data-breach-tfl

    Hundreds of thousands of EU citizens were wrongly fined for driving in
    London’s Ulez clean air zone, according to European governments, in what >> has been described as “possibly one of the largest data breaches in EU
    history”.

    The Guardian can reveal Transport for London (TfL) has been accused by
    five EU countries of illegally obtaining the names and addresses of their
    citizens in order to issue the fines, with more than 320,000 penalties,
    some totalling thousands of euros, sent out since 2021.

    The Liberal Democrats’ transport spokesperson in the London assembly has >> called for an immediate investigation, saying the issue could damage the
    UK capital’s reputation as being open to visitors.

    Since Brexit, the UK has been banned from automatic access to personal
    details of EU residents. Transport authorities in Belgium, Spain, Germany
    and the Netherlands have confirmed to the Guardian that driver data
    cannot be shared with the UK for enforcement of London’s ultra-low
    emission zone (Ulez), and claim registered keeper details were obtained
    illegally by agents acting for TfL’s contractor Euro Parking Collection. >>
    In France, more than 100 drivers have launched a lawsuit claiming their
    details were obtained fraudulently, while Dutch lorry drivers are taking
    legal action against TfL over £6.5m of fines they claim were issued
    unlawfully.

    According to the Belgian MP Michael Freilich, who has investigated the
    issue on behalf of his constituents, TfL is treating European drivers as
    a “cash cow” by using data obtained illegitimately to issue unjustifiable
    fines.

    Many of the penalties have been issued to drivers who visited London in
    Ulez-compliant vehicles and were not aware they had to be registered with
    TfL’s collections agent Euro Parking at least 10 days before their visit. >>
    Failure to register does not count as a contravention, according to Ulez
    rules, but some drivers have nonetheless received penalties of up to
    five-
    figure sums. TfL said the fines were justified because it was unable to
    confirm whether foreign vehicles had contravened emissions standards if
    they were not registered.

    Has London’s Ulez become a magnet for conspiracy theories? – video
    Has London’s Ulez become a magnet for conspiracy theories? – video
    Some low-emission cars have been misclassed as heavy goods diesel
    vehicles and fined under the separate low-emission zone (Lez) scheme,
    which incurs penalties of up to £2,000 a day. Hundreds of drivers have
    complained that the fines arrived weeks after the early payment discount
    and appeals deadlines had passed.

    One French driver was fined £25,000 for allegedly contravening Lez and
    Ulez rules, despite the fact his minibus was exempt.

    Freilich has asked ministers to raise the issue during the current
    Belgian presidency of the Council of the EU. “This is possibly one of the >> largest privacy and data breaches in EU history, but so far no concrete
    action has been taken while responsibilities are being shunted on to
    drivers,” he said.

    TfL said that despite an absence of individual data-sharing agreements
    with EU countries, “local laws” allowed authorities to share vehicle
    owner information with the UK for the enforcement of traffic regulations.

    However, EU countries say national laws allow the UK to access personal
    data only for criminal offences, not civil ones. Breaching Ulez rules is
    a civil offence, while more risky behaviour such as speeding or driving
    under the influence of drink or drugs can be a criminal offence. This
    raises the question of whether Euro Parking can legally carry out its
    contract with TfL.

    Euro Parking was awarded a five-year contract by TfL in 2020 to recover
    debts from foreign drivers who had breached congestion or emission zone
    rules.

    The company, which is paid according to its performance, is estimated to
    have earned between £5m and £10m. It has the option to renew for a
    further five years.

    The firm is owned by the US transport technology group Verra Mobility,
    which is listed on the Nasdaq stock exchange and headed by the former
    Bank of America Merrill Lynch executive David Roberts. The company’s net >> revenue was $205m (£161m) in the second quarter of 2023.

    In October, the Belgian government ordered a criminal investigation after
    a court bailiff was accused of illegally passing the details of 20,000
    drivers to Euro Parking for Ulez enforcement. The bailiff was suspended
    in 2022 and TfL initially claimed that no Belgian data had been shared
    with Euro Parking since then. However, a freedom of information request
    by the Guardian found that more than 17,400 fines had been issued to
    Belgians in the intervening 19 months.

    TfL then claimed driver details were provided directly to Euro Parking by
    Belgium’s vehicle licensing agency. It has since told the Guardian they
    are obtained via a National Contact Point (NCP), a network of official
    information hubs for use by authorised agencies.

    However, the Belgian minister for transport has confirmed that data
    cannot be shared directly or indirectly for Ulez enforcement. Last month,
    the Belgian data protection authority began an investigation into how the
    information was still being obtained.

    Campaigners accuse Euro Parking of circumventing data protection rules by
    using EU-based agents to request driver data without disclosing that it
    is for UK enforcement.

    Last year, an investigation by the Dutch vehicle licensing authority RDW
    found that the personal details of 55,000 citizens had been obtained via
    an NCP in Italy. “The NCP informed us that the authorised users have used >> the data in an unlawful way and stopped their access,” a spokesperson
    said.

    The German transport authority KBA claimed that an Italian NCP was used
    to obtain information from its database. “Euro Parking obtained the data >> through unlawful use of an EU directive to facilitate the cross-border
    exchange of information about traffic offences that endanger road
    safety,” a KBA spokesperson said. “The directive does not include
    breaches of environmental rules.”

    Spain’s transport department told the Guardian that UK authorities were
    not allowed access to driver details for Ulez enforcement. Euro Parking
    has sent more than 25,600 fines to Spanish drivers since 2021.

    In France, 102 drivers have launched a lawsuit claiming that their
    details were fraudulently obtained. Romain Binelli, of the law firm Woog
    & Associés, who is representing the litigants, said: “The question is who >> could have accessed the information. Either Euro Parking and TfL have
    maintained their access to the vehicle database, which should have ended
    after Brexit, or they are paying someone to get the information. Drivers
    are receiving packets of 10 or more fines for monstrous amounts all at
    once, often well after the [deadline] date to contest them.”

    TfL, speaking on behalf of Euro Parking, said: “Any company working on
    our behalf is contractually required to ensure that data is processed in
    line with the relevant data protection legislation. We work closely with
    European Parking Collection to ensure all elements of the contract are
    being adhered to and have mechanisms in place should they not be
    fulfilled.

    “Euro Parking make it clear when they submit requests for keeper data in >> EU countries that they are acting on behalf of TfL, for enforcement of
    road-user charging in London, even when they route those requests through
    a third party. Euro Parking has not been prevented from accessing keeper
    data for drivers in EU countries.”

    Caroline Pidgeon, the Lib Dem London assembly member and transport
    spokesperson, called for an immediate investigation after the Guardian
    shared its findings.

    “It is extremely worrying to hear that TfL could be collecting its data
    from drivers unlawfully,” she said. “The extent of fines being issued to >> visitors from the EU, many incorrectly, demonstrates that the rules are
    not being communicated clearly to tourists, something which I have raised
    with TfL in the past only to be brushed off. If this issue is not solved
    urgently, it risks seriously damaging London’s reputation as being open
    to visitors.”

    Back in the Autumn I bought a new (to me) car because the old
    non-compliant one had broken down almost beyond economic repair, and I
    could foresee a need to drive in the ULEZ.

    Car #2 is clearly compliant from the data held by the manufacturers and
    DVLA - also being made about six months after the previous model was withdrawn from sale for not being compliant.

    Before I drove it in London, I used TfL's very own ULEZ-checker to make
    sure they agreed it was compliant, and they did.

    Imagine my surprise a week or two later when receiving a penalty notice
    for not paying the ULEZ charge. [And next day a second for the trip home
    on the following day] After some fairly acrimonious correspondence they finally agreed to "accept my representation" which was along the lines
    of "You complete and utter idiots..." Some people have said I should
    have asked nicely, but I'm totally convinced that would have been futile.

    They have refused my demand for compensation for the distress and inconvenience, on the grounds that "we never pay compensation". In
    a few weeks time I'll renew my efforts to pursue this matter, and my inclination is to repeat that I'll settle for the highest of the
    escalating amount [x2 obviously for the two days] their hectoring
    letters said I would owe them, if I didn't pay.

    Or should I try starting with a higher sum? The actual money I'll donate
    to a local hospice, so that's hopefully going to give their public
    relations team even more sleepless nights.

    Go, get em!

    They effin' well deserve it.

    --- SoupGate-Win32 v1.05
    * Origin: fsxNet Usenet Gateway (21:1/5)
  • From Pamela@21:1/5 to All on Sun Jan 28 17:41:30 2024
    On 14:45 26 Jan 2024, Jethro_uk said:

    https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2024/jan/26/eu-citizens- ulez-fines-data-breach-tfl

    [SNIP]

    In this case the details of the vehicles' registered keeper were obtained illegally, but surely there exist other legitimate ways for a UK public authority to obtain the same data?

    --- SoupGate-Win32 v1.05
    * Origin: fsxNet Usenet Gateway (21:1/5)
  • From Roger Hayter@21:1/5 to Pamela on Sun Jan 28 19:29:42 2024
    On 28 Jan 2024 at 17:41:30 GMT, "Pamela" <uklm@permabulator.33mail.com> wrote:

    On 14:45 26 Jan 2024, Jethro_uk said:

    https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2024/jan/26/eu-citizens-
    ulez-fines-data-breach-tfl

    [SNIP]

    In this case the details of the vehicles' registered keeper were obtained illegally, but surely there exist other legitimate ways for a UK public authority to obtain the same data?

    We, I believe, have an arrangement with the EU for cooperation over criminal investigations, but the relevant countries apparently do not believe we agreed to continue to exchange data for the purpose of administrative charges.

    Interestingly, we try to make the same distinction as far as foreign (chiefly American) embassies are concerned, saying that although exempt from criminal penalties diplomats should pay these administrative charges. They disagree, apparently.

    --
    Roger Hayter

    --- SoupGate-Win32 v1.05
    * Origin: fsxNet Usenet Gateway (21:1/5)
  • From JNugent@21:1/5 to Pamela on Sun Jan 28 22:29:30 2024
    On 28/01/2024 05:41 pm, Pamela wrote:

    On 14:45 26 Jan 2024, Jethro_uk said:

    https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2024/jan/26/eu-citizens-
    ulez-fines-data-breach-tfl

    [SNIP]

    In this case the details of the vehicles' registered keeper were obtained illegally, but surely there exist other legitimate ways for a UK public authority to obtain the same data?

    It has been explained in the media that details may only be obtained
    lawfully where there is suspicion of an *offence* having been committed
    (eg, speeding, careless driving, etc). Civil matters (including the ULEZ
    charge and presumably Mad Ken's "Congestion" charge) don't count.

    About fifteen years ago, I got an inadvertent charge for driving in a restricted street in Florence.

    Who knew? Certainly not I.

    I had to pay it because the position was then different: we were in the
    EU. Today, I wouldn't have to.

    --- SoupGate-Win32 v1.05
    * Origin: fsxNet Usenet Gateway (21:1/5)
  • From JNugent@21:1/5 to Roger Hayter on Sun Jan 28 22:32:33 2024
    On 28/01/2024 07:29 pm, Roger Hayter wrote:

    "Pamela" <uklm@permabulator.33mail.com> wrote:
    Jethro_uk said:

    https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2024/jan/26/eu-citizens-
    ulez-fines-data-breach-tfl

    [SNIP]

    In this case the details of the vehicles' registered keeper were obtained
    illegally, but surely there exist other legitimate ways for a UK public
    authority to obtain the same data?

    We, I believe, have an arrangement with the EU for cooperation over criminal investigations, but the relevant countries apparently do not believe we agreed
    to continue to exchange data for the purpose of administrative charges.

    Interestingly, we try to make the same distinction as far as foreign (chiefly American) embassies are concerned, saying that although exempt from criminal penalties diplomats should pay these administrative charges. They disagree, apparently.

    As far as I know, the American State Department has still refused to
    recognise Mad Ken's "Congestion charge" as something their UK-located
    employees have to pay. Their official position is that it is a local tax.

    Perhaps Khan can take the USA to the ICJ.

    --- SoupGate-Win32 v1.05
    * Origin: fsxNet Usenet Gateway (21:1/5)
  • From Pancho@21:1/5 to JNugent on Mon Jan 29 09:59:53 2024
    On 28/01/2024 22:32, JNugent wrote:


    As far as I know, the American State Department has still refused to recognise Mad Ken's "Congestion charge" as something their UK-located employees have to pay. Their official position is that it is a local tax.


    One wonders how the US will deal with diplomats and the Manhattan
    congestion charge, which is expected to be introduced later this year.

    Perhaps Khan can take the USA to the ICJ.


    Let's hope he obeys the low emission rules when he is in The Hauge.

    --- SoupGate-Win32 v1.05
    * Origin: fsxNet Usenet Gateway (21:1/5)
  • From JNugent@21:1/5 to Pancho on Tue Jan 30 15:47:36 2024
    On 29/01/2024 09:59 am, Pancho wrote:

    On 28/01/2024 22:32, JNugent wrote:

    As far as I know, the American State Department has still refused to
    recognise Mad Ken's "Congestion charge" as something their UK-located
    employees have to pay. Their official position is that it is a local tax.

    One wonders how the US will deal with diplomats and the Manhattan
    congestion charge, which is expected to be introduced later this year.

    Will it survive the change of government next January?

    I haven't driven in Manhattan all that much, but that proposal
    effectively adds $15 to the $14 Lincoln Tunnel and Holland Tunnel tolls
    (and to the George Washington Bridge toll for anyone heading for 60th or below). Those tolls are only charged one way, so are effectively return
    tolls). There's a charge, IIRC, on the Battery Tunnel as well. The
    bridges across the East River will now be "tolled" at $15 return.

    Perhaps Khan can take the USA to the ICJ.

    Let's hope he obeys the low emission rules when he is in The Hauge.

    He'll go in the Range Rover, d'you think?

    --- SoupGate-Win32 v1.05
    * Origin: fsxNet Usenet Gateway (21:1/5)
  • From Jethro_uk@21:1/5 to All on Thu Feb 1 21:38:47 2024
    https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2024/jan/26/how-belgian-mp- michael-freilich-turned-sleuth-to-solve-london-ulez-fine-mystery

    --- SoupGate-Win32 v1.05
    * Origin: fsxNet Usenet Gateway (21:1/5)