Russian politician proposes oddball tax break for motorcyclists

Tired of paying government taxes to register and ride your motorcycle? If you’re tired of paying out to The Man every year, then maybe you should move to Russia, where one politician has a proposal to help motorcyclists save money.

RT.com is reporting Russian senator Vadim Tyulpanov is proposing people who engage in risky activities (he singles out motorcyclists) ought to be given a break on their road taxes if they become organ donors — either eliminating the tax, or cutting it severely. Sounds generous, but Tyulpanov is actually trying to set up a national organ donor registry and said “It will also pose the question of the risks run by motorbike riders.” In other words, maybe if they register motorcyclists as organ donors, it will make them re-think riding.

But really, is that sort of move necessary to discourage motorcyclists in Russia? We would have figured videos like this would do that job quite nicely. No matter how desperate you are to avoid road taxes, no savings are worth the risk of having a transport truck flying into your face while you’re riding.