2nd LD Writethru: German parliament approves controversial road toll

The Bundestag, lower house of German parliament, has passed on Friday a controversial road toll law.

By a large majority, the Bundestag has approved the bill initiated by German Transport Minister Alexander Dobrindt, reported German television ARD. The road toll is to be introduced in 2016.

According to the bill, car drivers will in future be charged a toll for using Germany's motorways and major federal roads.

Holders of vehicles registered in Germany will have to pay the charge for using both motorways and major federal roads. Foreign vehicle owners will be excluded from paying the toll when using Germany's major federal roads, so as not to burden local border traffic.

The annual fee for domestic car owners will be calculated by the engine capacity and environmental performance of their vehicles. German drivers will then be compensated by having it deducted from their vehicle tax.

Foreign drivers have three options: a 10-day pass, a two-month toll, or a 12-month charge. The fee can be paid in advance online or at filling stations.

With the implementation of the road toll, the German government is expecting to rake in 700 million euros (about 756 million U.S. dollars) a year from foreign drivers. After deducting running costs, an annual income of some 500 million euros is expected to arise from the charge, which then will be invested to improve Germany's roads and infrastructure.

The road toll plan has led to heated debates in Germany. Doubts over the charge were also voiced from the EU. The system, which exempts German drivers from extra costs by compensations, was criticized of discriminating against foreign motorists.

Dobrindt, however, has stressed that the infrastructure fee was "fair" and "in line with EU rules". (1 euro = 1.08 U.S. dollars) Endit