Well bikers are screwed - ACC levy

[grusomhat]

Damn good idea.

As I've said in another thread, I believe that BRONZ are likely to be the only organisation with the potential to make any protest action work here.

Will do the same.

Will certainly be looking at helping out BRONZ but will be waiting until after next weeks meeting to see what their plan is, if indeed they do have one.

[Ixion]

I happend to notice a wee GN250 parked up yesterday. I've seen it before, it's obviously a daily commuter.

Tucked up by the steering head, was a rego label. Expired 2001.

I was intrigued enough to check out Carjam. Yep, on exemption since 2001.

He who runs may rede

[Bangbug]

"ACC’s $10 billion investment portfolio"
So ACC has (it's been a recession and the stockmarket pooed itself) 10 billion dollars. Where did they get THAT money?
WHAT are they going to DO with THAT money.
Have a recession and all of a sudden we've got to pay more, i think perhaps they just FUCKED their investments and WE have to COVER that shit.
I'm going to fuck myself before they pop my cherry!
BEND BABY BENNNND!

[PrincessBandit]

A little bird has whispered to me, that one of the prime movers behind tehse increases has been our dear friends the AA. I'd believe that.

F'instance
Maybe a suitable target for protest?

So it's because of our RISK factor rather than real facts. I still can't get my head around the far higher stats for various professions, yet where is their fee?

One thing that doesn't make any sense is that they are CURRENTLY collecting more in levies than what they are paying out ... so why the need for any increase in the first place ???

Because it's to cover costs projected into the future, not just what's being paid for here and now.

What about the poor buggers like myself who have a motorcycle as main transport? I am *not* driving to a protest in your passenger's seat! :P

Be like that then! I love you too. Do I smell funny or something? lol.

Damn good idea.

As I've said in another thread, I believe that BRONZ are likely to be the only organisation with the potential to make any protest action work here.

Will do the same.

Yep, downloaded and will do the same.

[jimbo600]

We may have to bend over and take it but we've GOT to make some noise about it. The squeaky wheel syndrome. We're up for a ride to parliament to protest. What about car drivers. They pay 1 levy no matter how many people are in the vehicle. That aint fair !

True. Lets walk hikoi style across the harbour bridge cos we sure as shit can't afford to ride across anymore.

These new proposals are just plain ridiculous. I for one will not pay that for rego. I'll either just ride without it, give biking away completely, or just use it for track use. Either way ACC will dip out. I'm guessing most other bikers will feel the same way.

[shrub]

"The steepest levy hikes are for drivers of large motorcycles.

All motorcycles currently pay $252.69 in levies. Under the changes, while bikes under 125CC face only an increase of a few dollars, larger motorcycles will pay far heftier amounts.

For example: 126-600cc: increases from $252.69 to $511.43 (102 per cent increase).

601 plus cc: increases from $252.69 to $745.77."

Ouch. I think I might can the idea of getting another bike.

[davebullet]

Since we might get fines for parking considerately on the footpath in wellington, I may as well not pay my rego and park in a parking building with me $750+ per annum.

How about we all get together to fund a license sticker counterfeiting machine?

[cs363]

Damn good idea.

As I've said in another thread, I believe that BRONZ are likely to be the only organisation with the potential to make any protest action work here.

Will do the same.

I think if everyone on here takes the same action (1. Email or letter to your MP, cc'd to Nick Smith & John Key 2. Submission to ACC via email or letter (remembering to include you full name, address and contact phone number) and 3. Joins BRONZ (What's $20 when you could save hundreds?) and participates in any properly organised protest.
We could have a shot at making a difference here.

Now, there's almost 17,000 KB members even if we take off a few thousand who aren't active that's a lot of people, then if each of them inspires one or two friends to do the same that's a serious amount of people, that should certainly attract media attention and hopefully make a difference - even if it is only to knock the rego fee down to the $500 or so some people reckon will be the real target cost.

Or, do nothing and pay the price. Your call people.

Side effect would also be to dramatically swell the membership of BRONZ and possibly create a much stronger voice against any future meddling with our beloved bikes.

[JohnR]

"Motorcycle levies

Within the motor vehicle levy changes (summarised in the above table) ACC is proposing major changes to motorcycle levies to take into account the fact that for several years, car drivers have been subsidising motorcycle and moped riders.
The new levies reflect the fact that motorcycle riders are 16 times more likely to be involved in a road crash than any other road users and are far more likely to be seriously injured. In 2008/09 ACC paid more than $62 million for motorcycle riders but collected only $12.3 million in levies from them.
Even with the significant proposed increases in the rates payable by motorcycle and moped drivers to redress this imbalance, car drivers will still continue to subsidise motorcycle and moped drivers by $77 a year for the 2010/2011 year.
‘The proposed legislative change to extend the full funding date to 2019 would reduce the effect of residual claims on motor vehicle levies by $100,’ said Mr Judge. ‘However, whether or not this translates into an equivalent reduction in those levies will depend on how best to fund the account fully over the next 10 years. This is something the Board must determine.’
The proposals also change the categories for mopeds and motorcycles, by grouping mopeds and motorcycles together and introducing three sub-classes for 0-125 cc, 126-600 cc and 601+ cc cycles."


The most disturbing word in this missive is "likely"... This, to me, suggests interpretation of chosen statistics rather than use of actual facts.

Yes i know, politicians and civil servants do this all the time. But surely this is reason enough for us to feel aggrieved and hard done by?

[mossy1200]

Lets say that high rego costs will devalue our bikes.Correct?

Is it fair to say we should all lodge claim each in small claims court against government for lost money due excessive registration costs.

10,000 small claims appearances will show them the finger.Even if every claim is lost think of the headache for them.

[Pampera]

'“What you’ve got here is a recognition that motorcycling, in terms of ACC, is a very high risk, and the injuries are severe because you are exposed on a motorcycle,” says Mike Noon from the Automobile Association.'

This should not be news to any motorcyclist but emphasises why you should not be a member of the AA. This is what your subscription is used for - supporting this levy increase. I quit some years ago.

[Harvd]

Man u should have been here about 4 hours ago. You missed out

[Danae]

I think if everyone on here takes the same action (1. Email or letter to your MP, cc'd to Nick Smith & John Key 2. Submission to ACC via email or letter (remembering to include you full name, address and contact phone number) and 3. Joins BRONZ (What's $20 when you could save hundreds?) and participates in any properly organised protest.
We could have a shot at making a difference here.

1 + 2 already done. I guess we're all looking to BRONZ now.

[Bangbug]

'“What you’ve got here is a recognition that motorcycling, in terms of ACC, is a very high risk, and the injuries are severe because you are exposed on a motorcycle,” says Mike Noon from the Automobile Association.'

This should not be news to any motorcyclist but emphasises why you should not be a member of the AA. This is what your subscription is used for - supporting this levy increase. I quit some years ago.

OMG did you SEE that FUCKING ARSEHOLE smiling when he was saying that?

[cs363]

Lets say that high rego costs will devalue our bikes.Correct?

Is it fair to say we should all lodge claim each in small claims court against government for lost money due excessive registration costs.

10,000 small claims appearances will show them the finger.Even if every claim is lost think of the headache for them.

Hmm....I like your thinking!
Or maybe BRONZ could take the government to court in some sort of representative action on behalf of all members? (yet another reason to spend that $20...)

And FWIW (for the knockers), I'm not a BRONZ member at present and never have been - but I strongly believe if we are to have any effect on this proposal we need a unified approach.