2013 French HGV ECOTAX

[Colin McKay]

What a surprise!!! We've heard today that the introduction will be postponed until 1st Jan 2014, but the delays have become a political hot patootee because of the lost revenue so it is unlikely that it will be put off again.

Better get form filling now, we've had to send V5's, VE103's, plating certificates, copies of contract hire agreements, vehicle spec sheets, drivers' passports, drivers' licences...and now they want us to sign some sort of power of attorney! Hmmm....looking at that one rather closely!

[Mike Bell]

Originally Posted by Colin McKay

What a surprise!!! We've heard today that the introduction will be postponed until 1st Jan 2014, but the delays have become a political hot patootee because of the lost revenue so it is unlikely that it will be put off again.

Better get form filling now, we've had to send V5's, VE103's, plating certificates, copies of contract hire agreements, vehicle spec sheets, drivers' passports, drivers' licences...and now they want us to sign some sort of power of attorney! Hmmm....looking at that one rather closely!

Delay again? Never saw that coming!


Sounds like I have got away lightly so far- Just V5, Plating Certificate, manufacturers Certificate of Conformity and the 'Mandate' (PofA). As my name is on the V5 I escape couple of those forms. The requirement for them to see drivers passports and licencing is puzzling. WTF has the tax collection got to do with who's steering the rig?

BTW have now got ny 'normal' peage tag on screen the correct way up (don't ask!) and can cruise through the 30kph lanes without stopping. But as for 30kph through a gap 5mm wider than my mirrors... NO!

[Les Redford]

The Ecotaxe which was due to come in on the 1st January has been suspended. No alternative date has been mentioned. Hopefully that will be the end of it.

[grantp]

Originally Posted by Mike Bell

Delay again? Never saw that coming!


Sounds like I have got away lightly so far- Just V5, Plating Certificate, manufacturers Certificate of Conformity and the 'Mandate' (PofA). As my name is on the V5 I escape couple of those forms. The requirement for them to see drivers passports and licencing is puzzling. WTF has the tax collection got to do with who's steering the rig?

BTW have now got ny 'normal' peage tag on screen the correct way up (don't ask!) and can cruise through the 30kph lanes without stopping. But as for 30kph through a gap 5mm wider than my mirrors... NO!

Sounds like the French authorities are taking lessons from the NSA.

And Google, et al.

As for your 5mm clearance - can I suggest a device that that retracts the mirrors as you pass through and then puts them back into position when clear?

If no one makes one there has to be a business opportunity.

I suppose the other possibility would be an auto-pilote with better than 5mm accuracy for width assessment.

Just a thought. One day it will come.

If trucks could be remote controlled, like drones for example, would they still need the driver's passport details and inside leg measurement?

[Clive Brown]

mutter, mutter.... damn cheese-eating surrender monkeys.... mutter, mutter.

[Mike Bell]

I imagine all in the haulage industry who have spent time sorting registrations for clients are well chuffed. All that work and not a penny income from it.....

[Colin McKay]

Never fear Mike, it will be back. Too much investment for it to be dropped altogether. We were actually filling in yet more forms on Monday when the postponement was announced!

[Mike Bell]

I wonder how many of the gantries or sensors or whatever for reading the darn tag are in place. Can't recollect seeing any work going on that would suggest same. Are the 'purchase points' for those wishing to rent equipment ready for operation at the entry points to France? I somehow doubt both.....

Decided to support the Portugal economy the other week by stopping at the border to register truck for their Auto-Estrada toll collection. Sooo easy- by time you are stopped at barrier it has read your number plate. You just pop credit card into machine and it registers one to the other. Then every time you pass under a gantry it reads your number and charges the toll to your card. Simples! Without even slowing down.

No needing to know emissions class, weight, axles, colour of driver's eyes or his waist measurement.... Actually- there is a thought. Toll system based on truckers waist size!

[Colin McKay]

Only a beanpole would make such an outrageous suggestion

[grantp]

Originally Posted by Colin McKay

Never fear Mike, it will be back. Too much investment for it to be dropped altogether. We were actually filling in yet more forms on Monday when the postponement was announced!

The EU in general seems to support road charging so any steps towards that, actually implemented or not, are all part of the softening up process being applied to the plebs.

I read a report today suggesting that Bavaria, or somewhere down that way, is planning to introduce tolls. Interestingly at the same time they plan to reduce the local equivalent of road tax by the amount they expect to collect. The implication is that the locals will be subsidised by non-resident travellers. Apparently this has been approved by EU legal authorities who oversee equality issues.

All rather interesting in a number of ways.

One day I anticipate that pedestrians will have to pay for using footpaths and pavements. Such are the benefits of communications technologies.

[Colin McKay]

Originally Posted by grantp

.

The implication is that the locals will be subsidised by non-resident travellers. Apparently this has been approved by EU legal authorities who oversee equality issues.

That is pretty much the arrangement proposed for our own soon-to-be-introduced-maybe tolling system for HGV's

[grantp]

Originally Posted by Colin McKay

That is pretty much the arrangement proposed for our own soon-to-be-introduced-maybe tolling system for HGV's

In that case it suggests that when Bavaria can do it having challenged the legal situation the rest should just walk it through.

One suspects it can be sold locally as a 'no net cost to the local consumer' deal. But wait a few years (or maybe only months) and suddenly the extra taxation scheme potential, infrastructure already in place and needing further support, becomes too tempting for any local politician to resist.

[John Elwin]

An update for you here:

http://connexionfrance.com/Governmen...w-article.html

There has been an 'escargot' rolling demo on the A46 near Lyon today & also more protests in Brittany.

[Mike Bell]

No-one does protests like the French! Thanks for that John, bought a smile to my face.

[Dan Rear]

I suspect Canary fans will do some proper protesting soon, Mike...

[Mike Bell]

Grrrr....



Maybe the Escort will get a new colour scheme for next season.....

[Clive Brown]

Dark blue and white?

[Mike Bell]

Originally Posted by Clive Brown

Dark blue and white?

Never...

[Tim Falce]

Originally Posted by Mike Bell

Maybe the Escort will get a new colour scheme for next season.....

I'm thinking of a new colour for the Jaguar, just not sure what colour at the moment.

[GORDON STREETER]

Originally Posted by Tim Falce

I'm thinking of a new colour for the Jaguar, just not sure what colour at the moment.

It's got to be British racing GREEN !

[grantp]

Originally Posted by Tim Falce

I'm thinking of a new colour for the Jaguar, just not sure what colour at the moment.

How about a gold wrap?

[Mike Bell]

As we have gone from talking about French road tolls to car colours, it has be be French Racing Blue!

As a mod, you could always start a poll, Tim!

[GORDON STREETER]

pasa con el color de la bandera española

[Tim Falce]

Originally Posted by Mike Bell

As a mod, you could always start a poll, Tim!

I can't actually, they don't trust me to have so much power

[Tim Falce]

On the subject of extra road taxes, do any of our resident hauliers know anything about this one https://www.gov.uk/government/collec...road-user-levy