[Steve]

Originally Posted by unkel

If even a minority (who knows, perhaps 20% or 30%) would decide not to pay, the system would collapse.

This country needs more French truck drivers...

[spockety]

Originally Posted by unkel

If even a minority (who knows, perhaps 20% or 30%) would decide not to pay, the system would collapse.

A barrier free tolling system might collapse alright, but you can be pretty damn sure that to combat the "civil disobedience" (read: "multi-billion euro loss over 25 years") the government would re-instate toll barriers.

"We're sorry to have to do this, but it's a significant minority of criminal drivers who are forcing us to do this to the disadvantage of the ordinary decent commuter."

[markpb]

Originally Posted by spadder

Would they have the manpower to ticket everyone?

It wouldn't require much manpower - I'm sure the billing system automatically issues the late payment notice, the extra fine and then sends a notice to the debt collection agency who will issue a summons and bring them to court. The courts would be the only choke point.

[Run_to_da_hills]

Im sure these dissobedient truck drivers will be asked to have filthy number plates.

[Our man in Havana]

Originally Posted by markpb

It wouldn't require much manpower - I'm sure the billing system automatically issues the late payment notice, the extra fine and then sends a notice to the debt collection agency who will issue a summons and bring them to court. The courts would be the only choke point.

I doubt they will take anyone to court.

[kbannon]

Originally Posted by Bond-007

It will never happen. Just the status quo will continue.

How long will it be before one of the papers does an FOI based report on how many people are avoiding the tolls and some politicians will jump on the bandwagon complaining about the unfairness of the new system?

Originally Posted by spadder

On the news tonight, the truckers spokesman was saying that truckers not going to pay the tolls, what would happen if everyone decided not to pay?

Would they have the manpower to ticket everyone?
NTR seem awful anxious about the changeover, bless them.
My guess is that this is going to be a fiasco to rival e-voting.

I do feel sorry for them
They are being forced to use the M50 as they come from the port. Then they pay the new tolls which don't include VAT and they lose the bulk discount that they negotiated with NTR.

Also remember some people don't have to pay tolls!

[cormie]

I wanna be a trucker, I'm just a lil guy in my van

[Morlar]

Originally Posted by Bond-007

I doubt they will take anyone to court.

I am not so sure - considering they do for non payers of londons congestion charge & the subsequent bumper fees I think they will. Debt collection agencies will not hesitate and the person being brought to court will pay the costs so it costs them (debt collection companies) nothing whatsoever.

Once the fees start piling up people will start to owe silly money in no time and it will result in court cases as there are some who simply wont be able to or will just refuse to pay in the hopes that it will go away.

I just noticed today this ;
http://www.rte.ie/news/2008/0826/m50.html

'While it is legal for retailers to add a surcharge to the toll amount at the Payzone point of sale, the NRA has said this will not happen'

Considering shops routinely bump their commission on selling things like call credit -ie buy €5.00 call credit in some shops costs you €5.50 does anyone honestly think that if some scumbag shops can add increases to unavoidable items that they wont ? I think if they can then some will. My view on this is that it is the perfect example of rampant greed in Ireland at the moment.

[bigtime]

Originally Posted by unkel

If even a minority (who knows, perhaps 20% or 30%) would decide not to pay, the system would collapse.

could not agree more, but remember they will have press releases stating near full compliance even if this did occur.

If only the ordinary people could come togeather they would overturn a lot of these scams.

[cormie]

How can the ordinary people come together?

[Our man in Havana]

By refusing to pay en mass. As said if enough refuse to pay the system will collapse in short order.

[bigtime]

Originally Posted by Bond-007

Debt collection agencies have no legal powers to collect said debts. They won't get paid. The Norwegian government tried doing the same and it failed miserably.

true, the issue is between you and the toll people. Any debt collection agency is a third party and nothing whatsoever to do with the issue at hand.

[cormie]

But they'll surely come after some and make an example of them and scare any rebels away?

[bigtime]

Originally Posted by cormie

How can the ordinary people come together?

thats the thing. the hauliers have some sort of group already in the form of a union. Also they are in a situation where they have no choice but to rebel against this madness.

[Our man in Havana]

Originally Posted by cormie

But they'll surely come after some and make an example of them and scare any rebels away?

Remember people rebelled against the poll tax in Britain? The system collapsed from all the non payers. In the end it was abolished.