Monday 15th October 2001

Say Cheese

Cameras follow our every move. Speeding offences, parking offences, road tax evasion, where will it end?

---

[Nightmare]

hmmm...
"The Association of British Drivers today welcomed action against those who evade taxes and increase costs for the rest of us"

how exactly does this increase costs for the rest of us? I understand it with insurance and the like, but am having trouble working it out for road tax...it isnt like a particularly high percentage of the massive 'driving taxes' we all pay actually get used on roads is it?

N

[smeagol]

Road tax should be included with petrol. There is no way to avoid it then. Knowing the tax we already pay on petrol the best way would be simply to get rid of road tax altogether.

It would save lots of admin money on what effectively is just an MOT and insurance check. AND seem politically good because you were doing something for the "petrol price reduction" to please drivers without actually losing a great deal.

[Sparks]

quote:
Road tax should be included with petrol. ........

Well lets assume 12000 miles a year, at (being generous ) 40mpg this gives 300 gallons a year, with 4.54 litres -> ~1360 litres.

Can't remember the road fund license (haven't paid it for years ) £160?

This gives an extra 11.7p a litre.

I agree it is a good idea, taxing more inefficient cars and high mileage drivers, including trucks, but I think people will go mental at an extra 12p a litre.

Just my two peneth

Sparks

[Nightmare]

and the reason they would never do it?

well the largest portion of the population, by 'general demographic', is over 65s...who average (I assume) rather less than most commuter drivers.

If it was just an increase on petrol, the goverment would lose out on all these people who may only drive 500 milse a year, but sitll pay the same road tax as a company car driver.....

[smeagol]

I agree ADDING it to petrol prices would agrevate drivers but seeing as there is already agrevation over the tax on petrol. I thought "giving back" road tax and not changing the tax on petrol (which is by far the higher earner) would be seen as a good political move.

The idea of Big Brother watching your car for "tax disk" purposes seems very suspect to me.

[fish]

Not that I like the idea of being watched but, why don't we combine tax with the road fund license hence ensuring you display the fact you are correctly insured.

Wouldn't this make it easier to spot people tax dodgeing.

Probebly get too much trouble with forgery though.

[smeagol]

I like the idea of displaying the fact you have got insurance on the disk, however with my Kit it was a regular occurance for the disk to get stolen. (with insurance cover as well would be too tempting for the Bstds)

Funny aside every time the tax disk was stolen and I reported it, I got a letter from the Police asking if I needed any counciling/help emotionaly coping with the theft, but when the bstds damaged my Lotus trying to steal it I got nothing. (when I probably needed it, I was a real miserable sod for that month)

[JSG]

quote:
Not that I like the idea of being watched but, why don't we combine tax with the road fund license ....

???? ???? ????

[Adam2B]

Whilst the possibility of bugs causing errors is a concern and the Big Brother approach is generally offensive, I think it has come to a stage where it could be of use to us.

If tax details can be stored, so can details of insurance and MOT validity. Fine by me, I pay and drive a car I keep in top condition. If that goes some way to keeping uninsured and un-roadworthy crap off our roads all the better.

Just so long as we use the cameras for that purpose and not to force the opinion that driving at 69 mph on an open road......you know the rest.

Edited by Adam2B on Tuesday 16th October 08:48