The Mayor of London, Sadiq Khan, has been found guilty and fined for failing to tax a 24-year-old vehicle, following a contentious fast-track court process.
Last month, Khan was convicted under a system that critics have labeled as “conveyor-belt justice,” where magistrates handle numerous cases daily, often spending less than a minute on each one.
Officials from City Hall have stated that the vehicle in question does not belong to either Khan or Transport for London (TfL), suggesting that the conviction may have been issued in error.
The mayor has faced protests from frustrated motorists opposing the expansion of the ultra-low emission zone (Ulez) to encompass all of London. Some of these motorists have claimed intentions to register vehicles in Khan’s name in an attempt to hold him accountable for the £12.50 daily charge.
The case was brought by the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency (DVLA), the governmental body responsible for driver databases, which alleged that Khan was the keeper of the vehicle when it was identified as untaxed on January 24.
A magistrate, who conducted a private hearing under the single justice procedure in Herefordshire, convicted Khan in his absence, imposing a fine of £220, along with £85 in costs and a £35.84 bill for the unpaid tax on the Nissan Micra.
Following a report from the Press Association regarding the conviction, the DVLA announced that it is reviewing the case and examining the circumstances surrounding the prosecution.
In a turn of events that raises further concerns, court documents revealed that DVLA correspondence regarding the unpaid tax was mistakenly sent to a Gordon Ramsay restaurant in east London rather than the nearby TfL offices.
Khan may now have to appear in court to contest the conviction in person.
The single justice procedure, introduced in 2015, was designed to provide a more cost-effective way to handle minor criminal matters, allowing magistrates to operate privately and issue convictions without open court proceedings.
This system has been under government scrutiny, particularly following a 2024 incident where approximately 59,000 convictions for train fare evasion were annulled due to being deemed unlawful, and it was revealed that children had been incorrectly convicted in these secretive hearings.
Additionally, there has been growing criticism as numerous cases have emerged involving sick and incapacitated elderly individuals facing severe penalties for failing to pay their utility bills.
In Khan’s situation, court records obtained by the Press Association indicate that he was prosecuted by the DVLA after the annual tax on the blue Nissan Micra, first registered in 2002, expired in September of the previous year.
The DVLA has been contacted for further comments regarding this matter.
