Police and tax inspectors are to use superfast car number plate readers to identify tax dodgers so they can be made to pay up. Drivers who are pulled over must either pay their outstanding bills on the spot – or have their car confiscated.

The scanners will initially identify people who haven’t paid their road tax, but payment for other outstanding tax bills – such as income tax – will also be requested.
Tax office spokeswoman Ingrid Meijer told BNR Nieuwsradio that the measure was aimed at notorious tax dodgers, and that people who were a bit late with their bills had nothing to fear.
Four cars will be touring the nation’s roads looking for bad payers. When stopped, the driver can either pay with cash or by direct debit – or get someone to bring them the money. If they’re unable to pay and their car is taken away, it will be sold after four weeks to pay the debt.
Tax expert Clemence Meerts told the radio station it was all perfectly legal. A pilot scheme has been running in Rotterdam since the beginning of the year, and has amassed €14m in unpaid bills. One man even had to pay €34,000 in back taxes.