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CDA to fight local kilometer tax planMonday 23 November 2009 Plans by a number of local authorities to bring in their own peak period charges for motorists on top of the kilometer tax will be made impossible, Christian Democrat MP Ger Koopmans says in Monday's Volkskrant. Although an earlier agreed experiment with a rush-hour toll system on Amsterdam's ring road will still go ahead, 'we absolutely do not want any further rush hour taxes,' Koopmans was quoted as saying. And he pledged to amend the draft legislation when it is put before parliament to make rush-hour taxes impossible. The cabinet is planning to introduce a kilometer tax for all motorists from 2012 in order to cut traffic jams and pollution. All vehicles will be fitted with a GPS system and their movements tracked by satellite. The initial charge will be three cents a kilometer for the least-polluting cars. Employer costs In the Telegraaf, accountants warn that the new tax will be passed on to employers for all work-related journeys. After all, workers in lease cars will not benefit from the scrapping of road and new car sales tax which will offset the kilometer charge, they say. And changes to work-related expenses legislation which come into effect in 2011 mean employers will effectively pay nearly twice as much as staff in kilometer taxes, Marcel Kawka of accountants group BDO told the paper. In its analysis of the new charge, Trouw asks how the public transport system will cope with the expected 6% increase in travellers, as commuters opt to leave their cars at home. 'Public transport is already full at rush hour,' the paper points out. In the Financieele Dagblad, Siemens Nederland boss Martin van Pernis says he too has doubts about the likely success of the system. There is only 'fragile support' for the tax, he said. 'I would prefer a system in which people take part voluntarily. Otherwise too many people will try to sabotage the kilometer charge because they see it as a tax increase,' he told the paper. Siemens is one of a number of companies competing to supply the GPS monitors. Meanwhile, a poll by Maurice de Hond says two thirds of people expect most drivers will end up paying more, despite government assurances that 60% will be better off. And while 53% support the introduction of the tax, only a quarter think it will actually cut traffic jams. © DutchNews.nl
What nonsense. Isn't it against our human rights to be monitored by 'Big Brother' all the time? Surely it's better to put a few pence on the fuel. By Chris Bradley | November 23, 2009 3:38 PM It is pleasing to know that the Government will guide me every step of the way and will know at all times where where I am. I always wondered what it would be like living in a 'big brother' state. By H. Meinke | November 23, 2009 3:52 PM This is turning into an expensive Farce. Industry will be pushing Minister hard to get a GoAhead on this as they need the new business. DAFt idea!!! By Gerard | November 23, 2009 4:04 PM This might be another way for the Dutch Government to earn extra Euros, By M Stuart | November 23, 2009 6:40 PM Stupid stupid stupid tax. There is already a kilometer tax... but it is levied on petrol. Why not jsut increase petrol tax and forget this invasion of privacy with the GPS trackers. By Marc | November 23, 2009 7:18 PM
By Gary M. Nillissen | November 23, 2009 9:19 PM Great point Marc. You are absolutely right. There IS already a kilometer tax with fuel. Let's fight this. All rise? By A.Kroes | November 24, 2009 7:14 AM I can see a big market in theft of these GPS devices - you have one in the car, it's stolen and used in another car at your expense. Then you have to buy another for your car (presumably) and try to claw back the charges from the stolen one. Where there's a way to make money, the Dutch will excel. By Hugh | November 24, 2009 8:47 AM People, NL government is robbing you like hell. Why all Easter EU citizens residing in NL are with their own country plate numbers???!!!! By Jacky | November 25, 2009 1:24 AM I think you need to change your license plates to NL after some time? By Peter | November 25, 2009 9:13 AM Jacky you are correct, but if you have a house or any property, or even a sofi number here in NL, and you are caught with a foreign licensed car you are in big trouble. (you have to prove to the authorities car has been away for 6 months a year) Up to 200k fine from the customs and even criminal charges. So you take your chances. By kos | November 25, 2009 3:44 PM I can say with confidence that the GPS kilometre tax will not work in The Netherlands. First of all, there is an open border. Secondly, there will be fraud. People fiddling with their GPS devices or criminals breaking in cars to steal GPS (just like they steal stereos) Thirdly, we all know that the satellite system doesn't work very well under tunnels or during bad weather. I wonder how can it be measured accurately. The Dutch is trying to copy Singapore which has a very successful transponder system. However, one must note that Singapore has a population that is discipline and has very low crime rate. It is highly unlikely to work in The Netherlands without problems. Maybe they need to just fix the V chipcard problems first before trying to chew more than they can eat. By Jasper | November 25, 2009 4:24 PM
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" 53% support the introduction of the tax"
How about a few comments from those who support the tax. I have talked to many and no one supports it.
By bobsocks | November 23, 2009 3:28 PM