ACC levies for 2011/12 announced - (vote for a tyre levy)
Ok the new ACC levy consultation is out and the news is not too bad for bikes – a small increase for 601+cc bikes and a small drop for others – although this is assuming a rise in the petrol levy from 9.9c per litre to 12.9 cents.
The consultation document gives a few ideas about future charges – such as looking at the driver/rider – age, infringements, advanced rider status (I’m alright hereso far) ; the safety features of the vehicle (how will that affect us bikers? – do we all have to go out and get ABS?) etc. This is certainly something we’re all after – to make sure it’s a fairer way to pay for our individual risk, but there’s a catch: us ‘safer’ riders may pay less but we must all remain aware that the cross-subsidization of motorbikes by other ‘passenger’ vehicles means that no matter how much of a discount we get as individuals, there is still plenty of ammunition for ACC to increase the amount we pay. So let’s not get too complacent.
One other point I want to throw in to the pot, and it hasn’t EVER been discussed before: I have a way to help collect some of the levies in a fairer way – and this means that even cyclists and ATVs will pay (some of) their way:
A TYRE LEVY
If a small levy was put on all tyres sold then everyone who uses the road (even cyclists) will pay some small contribution towards the costs. It’ll also mean that high power cars can be isolated simply by the profile of their tyres – i.e. more levy on low-profile tyres and wider tyres etc. Also, we’ll get less burn-outs by the knobs who know no better, and perhaps even more considerate driving with less high speed cornering (this affects cars more than bikes fortunately!) Even trailers, caravans, ATVs, tractors etc will pay something even if it’s not enough it’s at least a token gesture that we can all appreciate. The more you ride/drive then the more you pay – simple. Enforcement of this tax is already done by the warrant of fitness so there’s no policing. It’s a cheap way to ensure some fairness in levy collection.
Mad? No. After a bit of hunting I found out that there is a Federal Tire (sic) Tax in the US – so why can’t we have something like this?
Let’s have a discussion about it – and maybe send submissions to ACC to get them to ‘think outside the box’!
Reply With Quote
...it is better to live 1 day as a Tiger than 1000 years as a sheep...
Originally Posted by Jane Omorogbe from UK MSN on the KTM990SM
(incidentally, soft tyres are NOT necessarily safer - except under certain conditions, rider skill is a more relevant factor). Overall this would knock off $$$$ from the annual rego, bring in an extra $2m from 'untapped' sources who don't pay anything at the moment.
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