I usually never forward anything like that, but I can spot a genuine hare-brained scheme when I see one. The following is, I think, genuine and I've just signed the petition... If it's a scam, I'm impressed!

xxx BnS

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No joke, get signed up and pass it on.


Please read and go on number 10's site, it only takes seconds!!!

                                                                              
                                                                              
Subject: Road Tax                                                       
                                                                          
                                                                          
This was forwarded to me for signing and then onward transmission -
so now its over to you.  
                                                                             
Please pass this on. It only takes a minute. The government's
proposal to introduce road pricing will mean you having to purchase a tracking
device for your car and paying a monthly bill to use it.     
The tracking device will cost about £200 and in a recent study by
the BBC, the lowest monthly bill was £28 for a rural florist and £194
for a delivery driver.                                                         
                                                                          
A non working Mum who used the car to take the kids to school paid
£86 in one month.                                                               
On top of this massive increase in tax, you will be tracked.
Somebody will know where you are at all times. They will also know how fast
you have been going, so even if you accidentally creep over a speed limit
you can expect a NIP with your monthly bill.  
                                                                               
If you care about our freedoms and stopping the constant bashing of
the car driver, please sign the petition on No 10's new website.      

http://petitions.pm.gov.uk/traveltax/ - http://petitions.pm.gov.uk/traveltax/                                 
                                                                          
Please pass this on to anyone who owns a car/motorcycle. It affects
them.     

I don't think it could be implemented in the first place.
First of all, the practical aspect of it looks like a logistical nightmare. How would the monitoring be carried out? There would be a need for a complete new infrastructure all over the country to keep constant tracking of millions of cars.

I also don't believe for a minute that a country who makes such a fuss over the introduction of ID cards would readily accept this Big Brother invasion of privacy.

Let's hope this plan gets ditched and truly forgotten, not transformed, derived, extruded and re-heated for second helpings.

Not difficult to do.

GPS+"Black box" in your car.  Simple phone interface (via mobile network).  Every day/week/month "black box" phones home and reports your "the govt is going bust tax liability" and bingo, you have a new tax.

Hardware is out there, simple to write the code.  I'd guess it could be done easily.  Will it, nope!  I see this as a precursor to something else, as in "scare the crap out of everyone with this proposal, so we (loony brown) can implement something else !

Be afraid of this govt, be very afraid.  Be even more afraid if Brown gets into No 10.   So glad I have enough points to go to NZ if it all gets too much.....

Road pricng surely already exists in the form of tax on petrol. I'm sure there must be a difference,(or how would the Gvmnt justify it?!) but I can't see it.

 
Can anyone help my stupid brain understand please?

I don't think it could be implemented in the first place.
First of all, the practical aspect of it looks like a logistical nightmare. How would the monitoring be carried out? There would be a need for a complete new infrastructure all over the country to keep constant tracking of millions of cars.

I/QUOTE]

Try this: http://news.independent.co.uk/uk/transport/article334686.ece - http://news.independent.co.uk/uk/transport/article334686.ece

Problem with that petition is that it asks at the end for congestion to be eased by more road building. Can't agree with that either: new/wider roads = more traffic.

But road pricing is a complete nonsense, like ID cards and all the other things trimming our freedom, bit by bit. Did our goverment study in eastern Europe, pre-1989?

I don't like it but we've got to reduce some of this congestion - it takes longer to get to the sailing club!  Can we all drive small cars please - well space efficient ones.  I guess if you have to move half a dozen people a MPV is the right vehicle but to move 2 or 3 or 4 a Golf sized vehicle is big enough surely. OK a Mondeo then but something with a 4ltr engine that still isn't very fast, is built like a truck and handles like a truck doesn't seem right and would make me blush with embarasssment. 

I would enjoy a 5litre V12 that does 200 mph though - a bit akin to a Laser 4000 I'd suggest. Mines red too!

I am more than happy to drive a small Car redback, just don't moan when My Tornado and trailer push it around the motorway and the only way i can stop is by crashing into you

Very tongue in cheek but to do my hobby I need a bigger vehicle. Granted a lot of time I am in it by myself, but thats what I have to do. I pay more in road tax, fuel and insurance for my big van.

If you want to stop congestion get rid of the gippos with their pony traps that seem to have taken over the area around Datchet.

If all the cars on the road that did not have road fund, MOT and Insurance were crushed, there would be plenty of room.  THIS IS THE SOLUTION.

Next problem for Prime Minister Scooby please

Points system for people who want to come to the UK (same as Aus/ NZ), politcal asylum granted on similar terms as now; BUT if you then commit an criminal offence and proved guilty you are deported and will never be allowed back in.

Rising price of domestic energy - short term there is none - supply ahd demand, long term really has to be Nuclear.

Long term solution to that, and indeed to most things, is here:

http://petitions.pm.gov.uk/stoppop/ - http://petitions.pm.gov.uk/stoppop/

 Here's one if you're into big boats or Power boats:-

http://petitions.pm.gov.uk/Boat-Diesel-Tax/ - http://petitions.pm.gov.uk/Boat-Diesel-Tax/

That's the last one I'll be signing. Motor boat owners should pay to pollute and use up the Earth's resources (and get in the bl***y way) .

The fuel consumption of some of these gin palaces beggars belief.

.....That apply to Yachties as well?

Some yachts I've crewed on could have put their sails up earlier

But in general yachts have less drag and use less fuel for less time. I can't imagine it's going to break any Yachties' bank accounts.

They do get in the way though, especially upwind!