Members Thunderbroom Posted June 7, 2005 Members Posted June 7, 2005 And I thought the doubling of the toll booth charges in my area was bad... The Government is considering a new road charging scheme that would see motorists pay according to how far they drive. The plans are part of ongoing efforts to cut congestion and pollution on the UK's road network. Transport Secretary Alistair Darling told several Sunday papers that the new plans could see road tax and fuel duty scrapped. If the scheme is brought into force, motorists would pay a set rate per mile, varying according to when and where the car was being driven. If the new congestion scheme comes into effect, motorists could pay as little as 2 pence per mile in tax for driving on quiet rural roads outside rush hour, while those travelling on motorways at peak times could pay as much as
Members ezstep Posted June 7, 2005 Members Posted June 7, 2005 In Louisiana, cars are taxed according to value (once - sales tax) and then we are charged a flat rate from then on, yearly. In Arkansas, value (sales tax), and then according to weight of the vehicle, yearly. I have never heard this, but I wouldn't necessarily be against it, sort of a "usage" tax. I wonder how they will collect the "black box" data. Seems like the gov't will spend a helluva lot of money implementing this system.
Members Thunderbroom Posted June 7, 2005 Author Members Posted June 7, 2005 Originally posted by ezstep Seems like the gov't will spend a helluva lot of money implementing this system. I'm sure the British government is not concerned too much about that since it's just going to take the money from its citizens to implement it...and then charge them per mile to drive...and be able to track its citizens movements with GPS technology. My bigger question is what do they plan to do with all of this money that they collect? How are they going to fix the problem. Taxing their citizenry like this isn't going to solve the problem I don't think.
Members beam Posted June 7, 2005 Members Posted June 7, 2005 Originally posted by Thunderbroom My bigger question is what do they plan to do with all of this money that they collect? How are they going to fix the problem. Taxing their citizenry like this isn't going to solve the problem I don't think. I'd hope it would go into more and better public transportation options. Not that England is a slouch when it comes to this, but I've never seen a PT system that couldn't be better.
Members Thunderbroom Posted June 7, 2005 Author Members Posted June 7, 2005 Originally posted by beam I'd hope it would go into more and better public transportation options. Not that England is a slouch when it comes to this, but I've never seen a PT system that couldn't be better. Or maybe they'll build a new shrine to themselves like the Illinois Tollway folks did here a few years back...
Members beam Posted June 7, 2005 Members Posted June 7, 2005 Originally posted by Thunderbroom Or maybe they'll build a new shrine to themselves like the Illinois Tollway folks did here a few years back... Hey man, I take 290, I don't pay tolls *hides Ipass under seat*
Members Ender_rpm Posted June 7, 2005 Members Posted June 7, 2005 Originally posted by lug So if your car gets 30 miles per gallon, you pay about
Members NeonVomit Posted June 7, 2005 Members Posted June 7, 2005 And people ask me why I don't bother getting a car here Congestion charges and parking fees in Central London are ridiculous enough. This is going too far.
Members Thrash Jazz Posted June 7, 2005 Members Posted June 7, 2005 Originally posted by lug So if your car gets 30 miles per gallon, you pay about
Members Thunderbroom Posted June 7, 2005 Author Members Posted June 7, 2005 Won't this have an impact on the UK economy? The delivery vehicles that bring goods to businesses will be paying this tax as well. The tax will surely get passed on to the consumer.
Members Thrash Jazz Posted June 7, 2005 Members Posted June 7, 2005 Originally posted by Thunderbroom Won't this have an impact on the UK economy? The delivery vehicles that bring goods to businesses will be paying this tax as well. The tax will surely get passed on to the consumer. I'm sure that would have to be a write-off... I wonder if the current congestion charge is a write-off for transport-related businesses in London? If the UK's tax structure is anything like ours, it would be.
Members Thunderbroom Posted June 7, 2005 Author Members Posted June 7, 2005 Originally posted by Thrash Jazz I'm sure that would have to be a write-off... I wonder if the current congestion charge is a write-off for transport-related businesses in London? If the UK's tax structure is anything like ours, it would be. This is one of my problems with taxation of any kind. It starts out as a "good" idea then mushrooms into a mess. Once the exemptions and writeoffs are allowed, then the thing gets hugely complicated like the US Income Tax system. It keeps folks like J the D employed though.
Members lug Posted June 7, 2005 Members Posted June 7, 2005 Originally posted by Thunderbroom Won't this have an impact on the UK economy? The delivery vehicles that bring goods to businesses will be paying this tax as well. The tax will surely get passed on to the consumer. Don't worry, the government knows best what to do with your earnings, serf.
Members NeonVomit Posted June 7, 2005 Members Posted June 7, 2005 It had better be. Admittedly, public transport here is pretty damn good, albeit relatively expensive. If prices went up AGAIN, there would be an outcry.
Members Thrash Jazz Posted June 7, 2005 Members Posted June 7, 2005 Originally posted by NeonVomit It had better be. Admittedly, public transport here is pretty damn good, albeit relatively expensive. If prices went up AGAIN, there would be an outcry. Seen through the eyes of a Canadian, London's public transport was nothing short of incredible. I don't remember waiting more than five minutes for any tube or bus. Here, you consider yourself lucky if you only have to wait five minutes.
Members bassballs Posted June 7, 2005 Members Posted June 7, 2005 Originally posted by Thrash Jazz I'm sure that would have to be a write-off... *Jerry Seinfeld voice on speaking to Kramer* A write off?!?! What's a write off!?!?! Do you even know what a write off is!?!? (the episode where Kramer tells Jerry to mail his broken stereo to himself so the post office will pay for it because the package will be insured.)
Members theBiggestRisk Posted June 7, 2005 Members Posted June 7, 2005 I think this whole pay-per-mile idea is outrageous! The government seem to think that if they charge people more to drive they wont do it. People do drive, and they will always drive. Our lives have evolved in such a way that we rely on cars. People won't stop driving, they will simply budget to accomodate the new expenses. I don't see how this will help congestion in any way. In France (at least in Paris) i am led to believe they have system where different cars can only drive on alternate days - now that ACTUALLY reduces cars on the road. The British government only want more money out of this. As for the life of a gigging musician!! What a joke!
Members Thrash Jazz Posted June 7, 2005 Members Posted June 7, 2005 Originally posted by theBiggestRisk In France (at least in Paris) i am led to believe they have system where different cars can only drive on alternate days - now that ACTUALLY reduces cars on the road. The British government only want more money out of this. The alternate-day method that is being used has one major flaw. They do it based on license plate numbers (odd/even), and what a lot of people will do is buy two cars, one with an odd license plate number and one with an even. So, in the end, just about as many people will get to drive anyway and there'll be even more cars around.
Members lug Posted June 7, 2005 Members Posted June 7, 2005 Indeed, in a free government almost all other rights would become worthless if the government possessed power over the private fortune of every citizen" - John Marshall "The power to tax is the power to destroy" - John Marshall.
Members chugheshc Posted June 7, 2005 Members Posted June 7, 2005 seemed like good reading to interupt this thread with.a little wake up call.long emergency cheersC.
Members Thunderbroom Posted June 7, 2005 Author Members Posted June 7, 2005 Originally posted by chugheshc seemed like good reading to interupt this thread with.a little wake up call.long emergency cheersC. Chris...what's the jist of the article? I don't have the time to read it right now.
Members oneinchshawn Posted June 7, 2005 Members Posted June 7, 2005 I can't believe no one has brought this up yet! They will be using GPS systems to track how far you go, meaning that they will know where you are ALL THE TIME. Now I find that to be very disconcerting.
Recommended Posts
Archived
This topic is now archived and is closed to further replies.