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against vehicles whose owners had paid their way.
Once paid for the day, vehicles could be used to shuttle in and out without limit. There were some scofflaws. People avoided paying by watching for cars that were like theirs in make, model, and color. They copied down the license plate number and found someone to make a copy to put on their own car. If caught, though, heavy fines have been imposed.
This scheme is called “congestion charging.” In central London, traffic has dropped about 20 percent. Some 35 other cities in the United Kingdom are interested in using the same technique. New York City is interested. Around the world, cities with traffic congestion problems are interested.
Would Northern Virginia make use of the London “congestion charge” scheme? Could such a scheme be extended as far as Warrenton or Culpeper in the future? As the British say, “not bloody likely."
First, in the last election, a half a percent increase in the sales tax in northern Virginia, to be dedicated to solving traffic congestion, was voted down. Second, a “commuter tax,” whereby Washington, D.C., could tax the income earned by non-residents, for example, people who live in Virginia and Maryland, but who commute to work in the District each day, has been banned by Congress.
About $1.4 billion could be raised annually, but the money would not be used to solve the
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