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Farm tractor gets congestion fine Farm tractor gets congestion fine
(about 8 hours later)
A farmer has complained after getting four Transport for London parking tickets for his Derbyshire tractor. A Derbyshire farmer has complained after being sent four London congestion charge fines for his tractor.
Colin Spendlove, from Church Broughton, said his tractor was being repeatedly mixed up with a lorry which had not paid the London congestion charge. Colin Spendlove, from Church Broughton, said his tractor was being repeatedly mixed up with a lorry whose owner had not paid the congestion charge.
He said the mistake - his tractor's number plate is one character different - was almost understandable at first but now was getting ridiculous.He said the mistake - his tractor's number plate is one character different - was almost understandable at first but now was getting ridiculous.
Transport for London apologised for the problem and said it was investigating.Transport for London apologised for the problem and said it was investigating.
He received the first fine in Spring 2005, but the tractor has never been more than six miles from the farm. Mr Spendlove received the first fine in Spring 2005, but the tractor has never been more than six miles from the farm.
Mr Spendlove said: "The first time it happened I was slightly amused but after the fourth time, I am getting a little bit fed up and it smacks of incompetence." He said: "The first time it happened I was slightly amused but after the fourth time, I am getting a little bit fed up and it smacks of incompetence."
He added: "And of course when you ring the council it all falls on deaf ears. "You have to send evidence, log books, letters from the DVLA and so on, to prove it is an agricultural vehicle. He added: "And of course when you ring the council it all falls on deaf ears.
"You have to send evidence, log books, letters from the DVLA and so on, to prove it is an agricultural vehicle.
"And of course they never say sorry. It is a case of being guilty until proven innocent.""And of course they never say sorry. It is a case of being guilty until proven innocent."