Double Taxed and Loving It: How the DMV Charges You Twice and Calls It “Public Service”

Ah, the DMV. Not the place where you renew your license, but the tri-state Bermuda Triangle of Washington D.C., Maryland, and Virginia—where your money goes to disappear, reappear, and get charged again. It’s like a Netflix subscription, but instead of binge-watching, you’re binge-paying.

You pay taxes to build the roads. Then tolls to drive on them. Then fines for driving too fast. Then fees for contesting the fines. It’s a fiscal funhouse where every mirror reflects your empty wallet.

🚗 1. Toll Roads: You Built It, Now Pay to Use It

Example: I-66 Inside the Beltway (Virginia)

You paid for the construction of I-66 through federal and state taxes. But now, during peak hours, you’re charged tolls that can hit $40 for a one-way trip. That’s not a toll—that’s a ransom.

Legal Justification: Congestion pricing under the Virginia Department of Transportation (VDOT).

Fun Fact: VDOT raked in over $50 million in toll revenue in 2024. That’s enough to pave the road in gold leaf and still have change for a Chick-fil-A run.

🏫 2. Public School Fees: The PTA Paywall

Example: Montgomery County, MD

You pay property taxes to fund public schools. But then come the “activity fees,” “technology fees,” and “field trip surcharges.” It’s like buying a concert ticket and being charged extra to hear the chorus.

Legal Loophole: Maryland Education Code § 7-301 allows “reasonable fees” for extracurriculars.

Budget Breakdown: Montgomery County Public Schools collected over $12 million in student fees last year.

🚙 3. Vehicle Taxes: The DMV Triple Threat

Example: Washington D.C.

• Sales tax when you buy the car
• Excise tax to register it
• Annual personal property tax just to own it

Legal Justification: D.C. Code § 50–1501.03, § 47–902, and § 47–1002.

Revenue Report: D.C. collected over $120 million in vehicle-related taxes in 2024.

🧾 4. Income Tax Tag-Team: Maryland vs. D.C.

Example: Maryland Residents Working in D.C.

You pay federal income tax. Then Maryland taxes your D.C. income. D.C. doesn’t tax non-residents, but Maryland’s like, “We’ll take it from here.”

Legal Justification: Maryland taxes all income earned by residents, regardless of where it’s earned.

Data Point: Maryland pulled in $14 billion in income tax revenue in 2024.

🅿️ 5. Parking Tickets on Taxpayer-Funded Streets

Example: Arlington, VA

You pay taxes to maintain the roads. Then you get a $60 ticket for parking 2 minutes over. That’s like paying for a hotel room and getting fined for using the pillow.

Legal Justification: Virginia Code § 46.2-1220

Revenue Report: Arlington County collected over $8 million in parking fines last year.

🗑️ 6. Trash Collection Fees: Garbage Economics

Example: Prince George’s County, MD

You pay property taxes. Then you get a separate “trash collection fee” on your utility bill. You’re literally paying twice to have your garbage taken away.

Legal Justification: Maryland Code, Local Government § 10-103

Budget Breakdown: PG County collected over $25 million in sanitation fees in 2024.

🌲 7. National Parks: Nature’s Cover Charge

Example: Shenandoah National Park, VA

Federal taxes fund the National Park Service. But visiting Shenandoah costs $30 per vehicle. That’s like paying for Netflix and still getting ads.

Legal Justification: Federal Lands Recreation Enhancement Act (FLREA)

Revenue Report: The National Park Service collected over $450 million in entrance fees in 2024.

🧠 Why This Happens: Bureaucratic Gymnastics

Governments justify these charges as “user fees,” “service surcharges,” or “congestion pricing.” But when the same service is funded by taxes and then charged again, it’s not budgeting—it’s billing with a blindfold.

💡 What You Can Do (Besides Cry)

• Read your local budget reports
• Attend town halls
• Vote smart
• Start a blog

🎤 Closing Line: The Taxpayer Hunger Games

Living in the DMV means navigating a labyrinth of fees, taxes, and surcharges that would make a Minotaur dizzy. From toll roads to trash pickup, the government has mastered the art of charging you twice—and sometimes thrice—for the same thing.

So next time you get a bill for something you already paid for, just remember: you’re not being robbed. You’re being “fiscally optimized.”