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That's quite a long paragraph for a good system of consumer protection laws! Although the problem sounds like enforcement.

EU countries tend to have an official regulator (either an industry group or the government). The regulator can handle complaints made to them, or perhaps act without a complaint.

I know the UK best, so I'll give two examples.

"Trading Standards" (local government) will challenge businesses with false measurements, inaccurate ingredients on food etc. This can end in court or jail for a wilful or repeat offender. I think they also ensure the minimum "fit for use" periods are upheld -- a TV should last several years, no matter what the manufacturer's warranty said.

The Advertising Standards Authority (industry body) will decide whether a magazine advert is misleading. The result is the advert won't be printed again, and the company responsible will probably get some bad press.

https://www.westminster.gov.uk...

https://www.asa.org.uk/About-A...

It's normal for these areas to be open to delivery vehicles at a specific time (e.g. at night, before 9, whatever).

Westminster already has a policy for HGV loading times. Traffic congestion in London encourages deliveries at night at the moment anyway.

This really isn't anything new: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pedestrian_zone

London is one of very few cities I've been in (as a resident or visitor) without a significant car-free area, relative to its size.

One system that I've seen is Pay by Phone. I've not used it myself, but how it works is that each parking space has a number which you enter over the phone along with your vehicle registration number, how long you're staying, and your credit card details. The system allows you to add extra time over the phone, and avoids problems with broken/vandalised meters.

Here's a start: The UK Highways Agency currently operates c.1240 CCTV cameras: http://www.highways.gov.uk/aboutus/documents/crs_4 84483_annexa.pdf. Some of them are located here: http://www.highways.gov.uk/aboutus/documents/crs_4 84483_annexc1.pdf

South Staffordshire council (an arbitrary example) currently operate 32 cameras: http://www.sstaffs.gov.uk/default.aspx?page=12835

Here are some on the Isle of Wight: http://www.iow.gov.uk/council/departments/housing/ Island_CCTV/cctvloca.asp

Here is a map showing traffic CCTV cameras in the City of Westminster (ie, London) http://www.westminster.gov.uk/fmn/index3.cfm?Layer ID=216&&&&layersOn=Westminster%20Boundary&theScale =50000&panzoom=paneast&minx=522999&miny=178719&max x=529548&maxy=184673#Map_Section

etc, etc... A lot of councils seem to publish this sort of data on the web, you can always try and obtain your own through a FoI request...

Oh what joy to get towed in Boston and only pay $100

Come to London http://www.westminster.gov.uk/transportandstreets/ parking/controlledparkingzones/incorrect.cfm and this is the deal:

Initial fine £100 (US$182) This is discounted by 50% if you pay within 14 days
Not long after being ticketed you are likely to be clamped and the release fee is £65
And then they will tow you for only an additional £165

That adds up to £330 ($500) and somehow there always seems to be an extra charge - and that does not count the damage done to your car. If you are a stranger driving in London be afraid, be very afraid!

They could just add a small percentage tax to the sale of all new computers, and use the funds raised to develop interesting projects like Westminster Wireless City, or to start giving us proper broadband speeds (ie 10/100 Mbs) in London (obviously they shouldn't bother with any of this stuff in the North or the countryside).

Isn't it all under the City of Westminster anyway?

Could be worse... they could have ended up in Lambeth. To the uninitiated, that translates into a right fucking dump! As is most of London apart from a few select bits, but you still pay £250+ for a shoebox even in the crappy bits.