Cheat on your Taxes? Take a Cab!

The state of New York to no one’s surprise can be maddeningly slow when it comes to government-related matters.

Whether it’s archaic legislation that needs to be changed or the umpteenth civil engineering project that’s months and even years overdue and millions of dollars over budget, residents of the Empire State have become more or less resigned to the glacial pace of bureaucracy in its capital city of Albany.

But giving credit where and when credit is due, I have to laud a recent proposal  from the Department of Taxation and Finance that captured some local headlines for what I consider a very creative solution to an age-old problem.

Apparently some 16,000 delinquent taxpayers in several upstate counties were put on notice regarding their state tax arrears – either pay up or lose your driver’s license. The proposal, authored by Governor Andrew Cuomo would be enacted with the state budget.

Cuomo’s message to the offenders was succinct: "Tax scofflaws who don't abide by the same rules as everyone else are not entitled to the same privileges as everyone else." His premise, aside from the obvious fact that those not ponying up their tax obligations are putting an unfair burden on those who do, was keeping the delinquents off the very roads that taxes are used to maintain and upgrade.

On the whole the total amount owed to New York in four counties – Albany, Saratoga, Rensselaer and Schenectady - comes to roughly $22.5 million, a rather modest sum to be sure in the overall scheme of things, but I think New York may be on to something here.

Consider that New York has some 8.8 million registered automobiles and I’ll assume the majority of those owners pay state income taxes or in theory, are supposed to. If the provision travels downstate about two hours to New York City and its surrounding suburbs, which by far host the majority of car owners in the state, at the risk of sounding cliché, it just may have some mileage.

Besides, you may have occasion to borrow your neighbor’s lawnmower or snow blower – depending on the season - but pretty soon, they’re going to get tired of continually being asked for a lift to the supermarket.