Laurence wrote ... > The toll system worked in the past.
That's highly debatable. Certainly in the post-WWII era, the likes of Leslie Morton and others were convinced that the toll system was a serious commercial disadvantage compared to the fixed cost road fund duty applicable to road transport. >Today its even easier to manage. > Barcode all boats and have readers set up at strategic locations. Sounds simple. It isn't. Dirty barcodes, dirty barcode readers, faked barcodes, vandalised barcode readers etc. etc. etc.! > Issue a licence which allows say the first 100 miles free of charge > and then charge by the mile after that. Those that use the system more > pay more those that dont pay less. Further pricing boating out of the reach of those of us on modest incomes with little or no chance of an independent pension And. not only would a toll system further discourage genuine cruising, it would simply further promote the growing trend of boats that never move very far. > this system could also catch > unlicenced boats, overstayers on short term moorings etc. Not if they stayed put and never passed a barcode reader it wouldn't > The technology is "off the shelf" and proven. > But i expect thats too simple for Watford. I suspect that they have a more realistic appreciation of the difficulties :-) Bru
