The Congestion Charging scheme in London has divided opinion across the city. Despite local business groups grumbling about reduced trade, the Charge zone is set to expand - and the technology behind it is about to get really interesting. The scheme works by using 688 fixed cameras at 203 sites to capture the number plates of vehicles entering the zone. The images are then dispatched via fibre to a central hub with an array of plate readers to be cross-referenced against a list of those who have paid and vehicles that are exempt. This document describes the system of congestion charging in London and the possibility of using more flexible terms, such as time of day and vehicle emission class, instead of a flat all-day rate. Other options are also discussed. For the covering abstract see ITRD E139966.
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