Is it time to bring back the road tax paper disc?

RECENT figures showing that one motorist in 25 is uninsured and one vehicle in every 50 is untaxed (Mail) are scandalous. Due to a balance-sheet mentality, the police have been pared to the bone. I rarely see patrols on the motorways. It has never been easier to avoid tax, insurance and MoT if you avoid the cameras. Perhaps some of the billions the Government crowbars out of British motorists should be spent on policing motoring.

RAY PRICE, Pontefract, W. Yorks. It’S no surprise there is a £119 million deficit in treasury coffers due to the abolition of the paper tax disc. One of the key benefits of the old system was that evasion was difficult because anyone could report an outdated or absent disc on a windscreen. the absence of a tax disc also showed that a vehicle had no Mot or insurance.

TREVOR COLLINS, Grimsby, Lincs. SURELY it’s time to accept it was a bad decision to stop issuing paper road tax discs. Someone will get egg on their face but, if we return to the old system, the Exchequer will benefit to the tune of £119 million. I am aware that vehicle excise duty is not used for the roads, but maybe a little of the money could be spent on filling in the odd pothole.

IAN STROMDALE, Wokingham, Berks. WhOeVeR came up with the bright idea to do away with road tax paper discs is no doubt still pen-pushing in a comfy office in Whitehall or enjoying their gold-plated pension. Meanwhile, £119 million is missing from treasury funds.

STEVEN STRIDE, Sutton Coldfield, W. Mids. THE solution is simple: in Tenerife, you can’t sell your car until all road taxes are up to date, plus a small fine for each year of non-payment.

PHILIP TROW, Stafford.