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Road tax for electric vehicles and other vehicles  

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Paul Mayers
 Paul Mayers
(@paul)
Member Admin
Joined: 2 years ago
Posts: 273
23/06/2018 6:04 pm  
The idea of electric vehicles paying no road tax should be reviewed. Here are my reasons why:
 
a) Electric vehicles  are heavier vehicles and they still use the road. Therefore there is no reason they should be exempt. Also, when/if  bus fares go up in order to offset the costs to PSVs, people who do catch bus are effectively subsidizing the road use of those wealthy enough to afford expensive electric vehicles.
 
b) Batteries of EVs have a shelf life and still need to be disposed of and whether the state is responsible for it or private companies are responsible for it, there’s still a cost associated with it and environmental concerns that need to addressed.
 
c) It looks like a soft concession to companies like megapower. With effectively no road tax for electric vehicles and gov’t looking to swap its fleet of vehicles over to EVs, the public could and should rightly ask, who is benefitting from this transaction? It is bad optics on the heels of a gov’t that just hoodwinked it’s people.
 
Suggestions
 
Reduce the cost per kg of the road tax on electric cars and vans.
 
Reduce the duties on the importation of electric cars,vans and hybrids.
 
Electric scooters,motorcycles and pedal assist bikes should be duty free,however maintain the environmental levy. And if you want to make those road tax free, it would further promote the adoption of these types of vehicles.
 
A pilot program for an electric bus service should be attempted. Either public or private, but preferably private. The ideal route would be a circle line that left from River terminal, past Fairchild Street terminal, past the QEH,up to gov’t house across Bellvile back down through collymore rock along the back of the QEH and back into River Terminal. The service should be 
free and facilitate for people in wheel chairs. 
 
Thanks for your time.
 
Regards,
 
Nick Gill
This topic was modified 1 year ago by Simone Gill

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Simone Gill
 Simone Gill
(@simone)
Member Admin
Joined: 2 years ago
Posts: 235
19/07/2018 11:08 am  

To whom it may concern

I have been following the whole road tax issue with some interest. I agree  with the abolition and the implementation of the fuel levy. Its more equitable and it captures everyone who uses the road. What I don't agree with is its implementation. The old road tax was for a year in advance and for those whose tax expired just prior to  July 1st  are being asked  to pay a whole year plus the new fuel tax, this is unjust. Also the new disc system to ensure that people have insurance is burdensome to say the least. All motorists clamouring to get this at the same time with an already  inefficient system plus if you pay your insurance quarterly or monthly  you have to go every time, ridiculous.Also if I get stopped by the police is it by legislation an offence to not have a disc? if I have insurance which I presume is what they are stopping to check for.With this new system we have regressed as we are still operating in an analog age.

 

MY IDEA

We have come up with a way to get everyone to contribute to the roads i.e. the Fuel Tax. How to we get them captured to pay their insurance which to me is even more important in order  to protect our citizens.

1.Implement random spot checks and if they are found without car insurance an on the spot fine of $5000. The fine is payable within 24 hours and the car is impounded until the fine is paid. If not paid within a reasonable time the car is sold and the fine collected that way.

 

  1. Three months suspension on their license

 

  1. If you get into an accident without insurance the fine is $10.000 with same consequences as above plus 6 months ban

 

  1. If you kill or maim someone  either jail or $30,000 fine plus a 3 year ban.

 

10% of all fines collected are put into a special fund to assist anyone who is the victim of an uninsured driver to assist with  car repairs, car replacement ,medical  or burial fees.

The government would reap more money in fines, The people of Barbados will have some measure of protection and the roads safer.

The same way Barbadians complied with the cell phone law they would fall into line with this too.

Plus this would alleviate the whole issue of spending hours and valuable time in a line at the licensing authority. I also believe that all traffic issues can be settled by online payment of fines and an efficient special traffic court.

So give an amnesty on any back road taxes and move on. Do away with the  need for the road tax registry. Implement  a draconian way to ensure that all motorists have car insurance which is really needed to protect not only the Barbadian public but also those tourists who travel on our roads.

The fines for PSVs etc should be even higher if caught

.

Regards

Caroline


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