Germany may charge foreigners an Autobahn toll
12-09-13, 10:40 AM
#1
Germany may charge foreigners an Autobahn toll
Germany may charge foreigners an Autobahn toll
Raising taxes in any democratic country is tricky business, but there are certain groups on which it's easier to raise taxes than others. Smokers, for example, have a hard time making an argument against raising taxes on cigarettes. As far as the working class is concerned, raising taxes on the rich is a no-brainer. And in Germany, they may find it easiest to levy taxes against non-Germans.
The issue in question revolves around placing a toll on the Autobahn, but one that would only apply to foreign citizens driving in Germany. And make no mistake about it, there are a lot of them. Germany has 2,330 miles of border with nine different countries, the residents of which often use the Autobahn – one of the first and most extensive networks of highways in Europe – to get around.
Germany is subsequently left footing the bill for infrastructure used by foreign residents who don't pay the taxes to keep it up, which is why it's now working to implement a toll on the highways. The plan is part of a coalition agreement between Chancellor Angela Merkel's conservative bloc and the Social Democrats with which she's working to form a government. While the exact logistics of its implementation still have to be worked out, the toll would apply to non-Germans while German citizens would be exempt.
The plan is drawing sharp criticism from within Germany and from without. The transport minister of neighboring Austria, an estimated 1.8 million of which use Germany's Autobahns regularly, is threatening to take Germany to the European Court of Justice over the matter. Meanwhile German auto club ADAC says the measure wouldn't even be enough to cover the cost of maintaining the infrastructure, raising questions as to its point.
http://www.autoblog.com/2013/12/09/g...autobahn-poll/
12-09-13, 10:44 AM
#2
Super Moderator
This sounds hokey to me.
When I lived in Mexico, all cars paid the toll, regardless of where your plates were from (was actually very good quality in terms of the toll roads), so I can't see why all cars would share in this.
When I lived in Mexico, all cars paid the toll, regardless of where your plates were from (was actually very good quality in terms of the toll roads), so I can't see why all cars would share in this.
12-09-13, 11:21 AM
#3
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Germany has 2,330 miles of border with nine different countries
12-10-13, 10:10 AM
#5
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12-10-13, 11:54 AM
#6
Lexus Fanatic
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since germany is a (major) part of the EU, i think there will be a LOT of flak from other members. plus enforcement could be a challenge. only way i can see it working is citizens can get a transponder (by proving residency) to avoid tolls, and everyone else pays. 
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12-10-13, 12:15 PM
#8
Lexus Fanatic
you have to pay to play. What is annoying is that it is rare to be able to max the cars on the Autobahn because of chronic congestion even at night. Might as well head to Vegas and go for it on the open desert highway
12-10-13, 01:53 PM
#9
What they do here in Croatia is have transponders for quick toll and they give us 25% discount as well... anyone can get it but tourists dont know about it so they dont... and hence, us citizens pay less without violating any EU laws.
12-10-13, 03:20 PM
#10
Lexus Fanatic
iTrader: (20)
i don't really have a problem with that approach.
12-12-13, 12:33 AM
#12
yes, vignette's are time based and let you access (usually) all highways in one country.
Austria, for example, offers annual, bi-monthly and 10-day vignettes.
Italy and Croatia have toll roads like in the USA.
I found this on DW:
Gotta love our European Socialism :-)
Austria, for example, offers annual, bi-monthly and 10-day vignettes.
Italy and Croatia have toll roads like in the USA.
I found this on DW:
Some experts, like Ralf Resch from the German automobile club ADAC, have said building and maintaining German roads requires the financial support of everyone who uses them. Foreign cars, which account for around 5 percent of traffic on German roads "would generate a maximum 262 million euros in road toll revenues," Resch told DW.
That, he added, would be just a drop in the bucket, given the more than 7 billion euros required for the upkeeps of the road network. But if the 40 million registered cars in Germany had to pay a toll without any tax relief, the two groups together could contribute 4 billion euros a year to expand and maintain the German road network.
It's crucial, however, that the additional revenue actually fund roads, experts said, given that German motorists already contribute 53 billion euros annually to state coffers through automobile, petroleum and value-added taxes. Less than one third of that revenue is spent on transportation infrastructure. The lion's share goes to social programs, such as social security payments.
That, he added, would be just a drop in the bucket, given the more than 7 billion euros required for the upkeeps of the road network. But if the 40 million registered cars in Germany had to pay a toll without any tax relief, the two groups together could contribute 4 billion euros a year to expand and maintain the German road network.
It's crucial, however, that the additional revenue actually fund roads, experts said, given that German motorists already contribute 53 billion euros annually to state coffers through automobile, petroleum and value-added taxes. Less than one third of that revenue is spent on transportation infrastructure. The lion's share goes to social programs, such as social security payments.
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