What would happen if everyone stopped paying road tax?

[turbopug]

Just something random that was on my mind.

What would happen if everyone stopped paying road tax? It's not as if we aren't paying enough tax on fuel.

I think the worst that could happen is that "they" (the man/whoever this weeks prime minister is) would fine everybody, but if nobody paid the fines what could they really do about it? They can't put every driver in the country through the judicial system or into jail, and they certainly do not have enough money to buy wheel clamps or tow away every car with paying for all these wars.

Would it really make them stand up and take notice that fuel prices are financially crippling people? Or do they already know but just don't care enough to stop raping us.

[Nick3point2]

Everyone who went past an ANPR camera would get a ticket. Cars that coppers spotted without a tax disc would get a ticket.

I have said ticket because I don't know the procedure for fining/prosecuting the registered keeper of an untaxed car.

[Bungleaio]

It would take 12 months for everyone to stop paying for it so it won't be an overnight change.

[otherman]

turbopug said:

What would happen if everyone stopped paying road tax?

What would happen if everyone ignored the government on just about anything. The government would fall, society would collapse and you'd be fighting in the streets for food. And wishing you'd paid you car tax.

[paranoid airbag]

the likelihood is the organisation required for such a thing would be bound to catch the government's attention long before it actually happened. If they were sufficiently convinced that it was more than an empty threat, they'd cave immediately - you're right in that it's impossible to put everyone in the country through the judicial system.

In reality you wouldn't need everyone, or even a majority, to stop to get some give - but you'd still need to a) be vocal enough to catch everyone's attention, b) have some sort of sudden event to spur people into action, a gradual creep of taxes won't energise people enough. As you've effectively formed a political group, but a new, incoherent one, fairly small and vague promises about lower tax would probably be enough to dispel the movement.

[mmm-five]

They wouldn't have to take everyone to court.

They'd simply make high-profile examples/martyrs out of a few of them with £1000 fines and penalty for having no tax, possibly crushing your vehicle in the meantime, and increasing your insurance for the next few years.

Can you afford to lose your car, job, etc?

[poing]

If I was in the government and people did that I'd simply say "OK we'll give you the choice, pay the car tax or we will have to have a 50% increase in fuel duty next month to cover our costs"

[Blue Oval84]

GentleFellow said:

And then we could drive around London watching Sky Sports on our iphones, crashing into potholes every 10 metres.

You mean people don't do that now?

[Brilad]

I'd watch that.

Better than the ste they put on nowadays

Right I am off for a game of crown green bowls.

[J4CKO]

They would perhaps close the roads to cars as that is what it pays for, stop paying and you don't get the service.

Plus motorists would loose their favourite moan about cyclists,

[6potdave]

It just wouldn't ever happen. A select few people would do it and be fined, but the majority would be too frightened of the consequences and simply pay. The government have us over a barrel unfortunately, either pay up or don't drive and it stinks.