Dutch Treat: Pay Per Km Tax Approved In The Netherlands

by Bertel Schmitt

Published: November 15th, 2009

dutch treat pay per km tax approved in the netherlands

Worried about increasingly efficient cars and dwindling tax revenue at the pump, Dutch lawmakers approved the first “pay-as-you-drive” tax system in Europe. Of course, the dwindling revenue is not the official reason given. The official intent is “to protect the climate and to reduce traffic jams,” reports the Deutsche Welle. Now who can be against noble causes such as those?Nobody even mentions gasoline taxes, the legalized form of highway robbery in Europe. The pay-as-you-drive system will replace the old system that taxes ownership. That will go. The fuel tax remains. Dutch citizens are taxed twice. At the pump and by the kilometer.Beginning in 2012, Dutch motorists will pay approximately 3 Euro-Cent per driven kilometer, until 2018, the amount will rise to 6.7 Cent. The actual costs vary according to size and engine of the car. A Renault Twingo will cost you 1.4 Cent per km, an Audi A8 will get the Dutch government 16.6 Cent per klick.And how will the government know?You guessed it: Each car will be fitted with a GPS system. The initial cost for the gizmo will be born by the government, later, the box will most likely be mandated. Whether the Dutchman or Dutchwoman drives from Utrecht to Amsterdam, or on vacation from Pisa to Paris, the black box will report the driven distance, and the money is deducted from their bank accounts. Drive that A8 from Amsterdam to Naples, Italy, on vacation, and when you are back, $1000 will be no longer in your bank account.And what about big brother? Can the Dutch police check where everybody has driven? Can speeding tickets be charged automatically to the bank account, as the GPS system calculates the speed at all times? Sure they can, but of course they won’t. Supposedly. The Dutch government swears on a stack of bibles that “only the distance driven” will be recorded. “We are not interested in where you haven been,” say a government spokesman. Comment of the Handelsblatt: “The Dutch may believe that or not.”The Netherlands is for Europe what California is for the US: A liberal state that sets the example, be it legalization of dope or strict anti-immigration laws. The rest of Europe is looking with high interest to the Netherlands. Any additional income, and any excuse to have real-time records of the whereabouts of their citizenry will be welcome. Strictly in the interest of climate protection, of course.

#BertelSchmitt #Pay-per-mile #Taxes

Bertel Schmitt

Bertel Schmitt comes back to journalism after taking a 35 year break in advertising and marketing. He ran and owned advertising agencies in Duesseldorf, Germany, and New York City. Volkswagen A.G. was Bertel's most important corporate account. Schmitt's advertising and marketing career touched many corners of the industry with a special focus on automotive products and services. Since 2004, he lives in Japan and China with his wife <a href="http://www.tomokoandbertel.com"> Tomoko </a>. Bertel Schmitt is a founding board member of the <a href="http://www.offshoresuperseries.com"> Offshore Super Series </a>, an American offshore powerboat racing organization. He is co-owner of the racing team Typhoon.

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Micheal Blue on Nov 16, 2009

This is so Orwellian it's incredible.

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- Psarhjinian on Nov 16, 2009
  
  The thing is, you see, you get the government you expect. For some reason, the more socialist democracies in Europe haven't plumbed nearly the same depths of privacy invasion, civil rights abuse or government waste that less Leftist nations have done. Very recently, too. This is something Americans need to understand. Just because you had one disagreement over taxation without representation, or because your socialized healthcare is awful, does not mean that all taxes and government intervention is a bad thing. However, when you stop having an honest, open relationship with government (as Americans do) the distrust on both sides is bound the build up. You get the government you expect: if you expect it to be full of crooks and power-mongers, and if you feel you need guns to protect yourself from it, you'll get exactly the government you expect. There's nothing inherently wrong or Orwellian about this. Remember that this is a country that won't lock you up for five to 20 for having a joint in your pocket or engaging, ah, "professional services".
  
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- Toasty on Nov 16, 2009
  @psarhjinian psarhjinian, I understand many things, including that governments have and will continue to abuse their power, no matter their continent of origin. Not so many years ago, some of those enlightened, social democracies were run a little differently, and the least of their concerns were privacy invasion, civil rights abuse or government waste. History is full of people that trusted their governments a bit too much, and lived (shortly) to regret it. No one here has said that all taxes and government are a bad thing, but it is unwise to unquestionably allow government whatever it wants. Returning to the original topic, I've said that GPS monitoring may very well be a great plan, but the government needs to open the system up for review before its rollout. Whether the populace leans Left or not, that seems a reasonable request.
  
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- Micheal Blue on Nov 16, 2009
  @psarhjinian psarhjinian, there is some truth in what you say. However, the government has absolutely no business tracking peaceful people, period. If the government had good intentions, and people were indeed open to the government, they would simply ask people to report their milage, and most people would do it honestly. The history shows that the governments have not been mature and positive enough to have true positive benefit in mind for the people, all over the world. Also, when a governement comes up with slapping more and more taxes on people, regardless how cleverly they justify them, it shows corruption and disregard for the lives of the people. Full stop.
  
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Sinistermisterman on Nov 17, 2009

For 'Liberal Government' read 'socialist/fascist egalitarian government'. This is utterly terrifying - how the hell could the Dutch allow this to happen? God help the clog wearers. This is the first step before the rest of Europe follows suit, where every individual is tracked in the name of 'tax collection' and 'national security'. If you value your personal freedom and liberty stay the hell away from Europe. It's why I left.

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