Berlin - A German plan to impose highway tolls on cars, which has caused tension in Chancellor Angela Merkel's government - and with the European Union -emerged in detailed form in Berlin on Thursday.
Germany's 13 000-kilometre motorway - or autobahn - network is already a turnpike system, with trucks paying by distance. But use by cars remains free.
From 2016, every car on the four-lane highways will be charged up to 130 euros (R1773) annually as an “infrastructure fee,” Transport Minister Alexander Dobrindt announced.
Merkel was sceptical of the plan last year before being re-elected to her third term as chancellor. But it was a key election plank of a coalition ally, the Bavaria-only Christian Social Union (CSU). In an uneasy peace, Merkel's three-party coalition swung behind the plan.
The European Commission in Brussels has warned Germany not to discriminate against non-German motorists using its roads.
Within car-loving Germany, the issue of raising more funds to fix the congested and aging highways has often been debated passionately.
NO MORE “FREE RIDE” FOR FOREIGNERS
The CSU argued that French, Italians and others were getting a free ride in Germany, while charging the Germans to use roads in those countries.
Merkel vowed that no German car owner would pay more to drive than at present, so domestic road taxes will be reduced at the same time as the fee is ushered in as an integral part of car registration.
For foreign motorists, the starting price at border vending machines will be 10 euros for 10 days' use of the German autobahns.
Earlier plans to collect the money by selling windshield stickers were dumped. Instead, a database will log the licence plates of all paid-up cars and roadside cameras will detect non-payers.
In a last-minute change to cater to German factories whose staff commute daily from abroad and German malls that supply bargain goods to Swiss and other shoppers, the fee will not apply to foreign-licence-plate cars using Germany's two-lane highways.
CSU stalwart Dobrindt's plan now faces a trial by fire in Germany, with motoring organizations and rival parties contending that fee collection will consume the entire income generated and breach privacy.
He said, “The fee cures an injustice by making all those who are using our highways for free contribute to their financing,” stating the fee would net Germany 500 million euros annually from foreign motorists after deducting collection costs.
Merkel said she was satisfied no German motorist would pay a penny more.
“That was my main condition,” she said.
Sapa-dpa