<html xmlns:v="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:vml" xmlns:o="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:office" xmlns:w="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:word" xmlns:st1="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:smarttags" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/TR/REC-html40">
<head>
<META HTTP-EQUIV="Content-Type" CONTENT="text/html; charset=windows-1258">
<meta name=ProgId content=Word.Document>
<meta name=Generator content="Microsoft Word 10">
<meta name=Originator content="Microsoft Word 10">
<link rel=File-List href="cid:filelist.xml@01C74B5B.650BAE80">
<link rel=Edit-Time-Data href="cid:editdata.mso@01C74B5B.650BAE80">
<!--[if !mso]>
<style>
v\:* {behavior:url(#default#VML);}
o\:* {behavior:url(#default#VML);}
w\:* {behavior:url(#default#VML);}
.shape {behavior:url(#default#VML);}
</style>
<![endif]--><o:SmartTagType
namespaceuri="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:smarttags" name="time"/>
<o:SmartTagType namespaceuri="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:smarttags"
name="PlaceType"/>
<o:SmartTagType namespaceuri="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:smarttags"
name="PlaceName"/>
<o:SmartTagType namespaceuri="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:smarttags"
name="date"/>
<o:SmartTagType namespaceuri="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:smarttags"
name="country-region"/>
<o:SmartTagType namespaceuri="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:smarttags"
name="City"/>
<o:SmartTagType namespaceuri="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:smarttags"
name="place"/>
<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<o:OfficeDocumentSettings>
<o:DoNotRelyOnCSS/>
</o:OfficeDocumentSettings>
</xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<w:WordDocument>
<w:SpellingState>Clean</w:SpellingState>
<w:GrammarState>Clean</w:GrammarState>
<w:DocumentKind>DocumentEmail</w:DocumentKind>
<w:EnvelopeVis/>
<w:DrawingGridHorizontalSpacing>6 pt</w:DrawingGridHorizontalSpacing>
<w:DisplayHorizontalDrawingGridEvery>2</w:DisplayHorizontalDrawingGridEvery>
<w:DisplayVerticalDrawingGridEvery>2</w:DisplayVerticalDrawingGridEvery>
<w:Compatibility>
<w:BreakWrappedTables/>
<w:SnapToGridInCell/>
<w:WrapTextWithPunct/>
<w:UseAsianBreakRules/>
</w:Compatibility>
<w:BrowserLevel>MicrosoftInternetExplorer4</w:BrowserLevel>
</w:WordDocument>
</xml><![endif]--><!--[if !mso]>
<style>
st1\:*{behavior:url(#default#ieooui) }
</style>
<![endif]-->
<style>
<!--
/* Style Definitions */
p.MsoNormal, li.MsoNormal, div.MsoNormal
        {mso-style-parent:"";
        margin:0cm;
        margin-bottom:.0001pt;
        mso-pagination:widow-orphan;
        font-size:12.0pt;
        font-family:"Times New Roman";
        mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman";}
h1
        {mso-margin-top-alt:auto;
        margin-right:0cm;
        mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;
        margin-left:0cm;
        mso-pagination:widow-orphan;
        mso-outline-level:1;
        font-size:24.0pt;
        font-family:"Times New Roman";
        font-weight:bold;}
a:link, span.MsoHyperlink
        {color:blue;
        text-decoration:underline;
        text-underline:single;}
a:visited, span.MsoHyperlinkFollowed
        {color:purple;
        text-decoration:underline;
        text-underline:single;}
p
        {mso-margin-top-alt:auto;
        margin-right:0cm;
        mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;
        margin-left:0cm;
        mso-pagination:widow-orphan;
        font-size:12.0pt;
        font-family:"Times New Roman";
        mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman";}
span.EmailStyle17
        {mso-style-type:personal-reply;
        mso-style-noshow:yes;
        mso-ansi-font-size:10.0pt;
        mso-bidi-font-size:10.0pt;
        font-family:Arial;
        mso-ascii-font-family:Arial;
        mso-hansi-font-family:Arial;
        mso-bidi-font-family:Arial;
        color:navy;}
span.SpellE
        {mso-style-name:"";
        mso-spl-e:yes;}
span.GramE
        {mso-style-name:"";
        mso-gram-e:yes;}
@page Section1
        {size:21.0cm 842.0pt;
        margin:2.0cm 3.0cm 2.0cm 99.25pt;
        mso-header-margin:36.0pt;
        mso-footer-margin:36.0pt;
        mso-paper-source:0;}
div.Section1
        {page:Section1;}
-->
</style>
<!--[if gte mso 10]>
<style>
/* Style Definitions */
table.MsoNormalTable
        {mso-style-name:"Table Normal";
        mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0;
        mso-tstyle-colband-size:0;
        mso-style-noshow:yes;
        mso-style-parent:"";
        mso-padding-alt:0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt;
        mso-para-margin:0cm;
        mso-para-margin-bottom:.0001pt;
        mso-pagination:widow-orphan;
        font-size:10.0pt;
        font-family:"Times New Roman";}
</style>
<![endif]-->
</head>
<body lang=EN-US link=blue vlink=purple style='tab-interval:36.0pt'>
<div class=Section1>
<table class=MsoNormalTable border=0 cellspacing=0 cellpadding=0 width="100%"
style='width:100.0%;mso-cellspacing:0cm;mso-padding-alt:15.0pt 15.0pt 15.0pt 15.0pt'>
<tr style='mso-yfti-irow:0'>
<td style='padding:15.0pt 15.0pt 15.0pt 15.0pt'>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span
style='font-size:12.0pt'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
</td>
</tr>
<tr style='mso-yfti-irow:1;mso-yfti-lastrow:yes'>
<td style='padding:15.0pt 15.0pt 15.0pt 15.0pt'>
<h1><st1:City><st1:place><b><font size=6 face="Times New Roman"><span
style='font-size:24.0pt'>Stockholm</span></font></b></st1:place></st1:City>
Congestion <st1:place><st1:City>Charge</st1:City>, <st1:country-region>Sweden</st1:country-region></st1:place><o:p></o:p></h1>
<p><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:12.0pt'>The </span></font><st1:City><st1:place>Stockholm</st1:place></st1:City>
congestion charge is a traffic congestion and environmental tax that has been
imposed on the majority of vehicles in <st1:City><st1:place>Stockholm</st1:place></st1:City>;
it is the second of its kind to be introduced in <st1:place>Europe</st1:place>
following the highly controversial but none-the-less successful London
Congestion Charge introduced by the London Mayor, Ken Livingstone.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span
style='font-size:12.0pt'>"Transponders fitted in vehicles means the
system <span class=GramE>has</span> a more reliable capture rate and a more
cost-effective back-room operation."<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:12.0pt'>The </span></font><st1:City><st1:place>Stockholm</st1:place></st1:City>
congestion charge was first introduced as a trial between <st1:date Month="1"
Day="3" Year="2006">3 January 2006</st1:date> and <st1:date Month="7" Day="31"
Year="2006">31 July 2006</st1:date>. A referendum on the future of the congestion
charge was held in September 2006; the residents of <st1:City><st1:place>Stockholm</st1:place></st1:City>
municipality voted yes, and 14 other municipalities voted no to implement it
permanently.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:12.0pt'>In
October 2006, the Swedish government declared that the </span></font><st1:City><st1:place>Stockholm</st1:place></st1:City>
congestion charge was to be introduced permanently during the first half of
2007. The incomes from the reintroduced congestion charges in <st1:City><st1:place>Stockholm</st1:place></st1:City>
are to be used in partly financing a new bypass road, '<span class=SpellE>Förbifart</span>
Stockholm'.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p><b><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:12.0pt;
font-weight:bold'>IMPLEMENTING THE CONGESTION CHARGE</span></font></b><o:p></o:p></p>
<p><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:12.0pt'>The <span
class=SpellE>Vägverket</span> (Swedish Road Administration) is the body
responsible for the administration of the charge and its systems, while IBM
was involved as prime contractor responsible for solution design, development
and operation.<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:12.0pt'>IBM
built the on-demand solution using wireless <span class=SpellE>RFID</span>
technology supplied by Norwegian company Q-Free, one of the leading suppliers
of technology for road charging systems. The system works by using a Q-Free
on-board unit and road side technology in combination with an operational
system provided and run by IBM.<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:12.0pt'>Payment
is via a number of channels including by direct debit triggered by the
recognition of the on-board electronic tag that is loaned to drivers. Q-Free
cameras can also detect and record car number plate images using Automated
Number Plate Recognition (<span class=SpellE>ANPR</span>) software to
identify those vehicles without tags, and are also used to verify tag
readings and provide evidence to support the enforcement of non-payers.<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:12.0pt'>The use
of the transponders fitted in vehicles means the system has a more reliable
capture rate and a more cost-effective back-room operation than congestion
charging systems that do not use such devices. It also makes it far easier to
operate variable charging with automated direct debit after the passage.<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p><b><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:12.0pt;
font-weight:bold'>CONGESTION CHARGE EXEMPTIONS</span></font></b><o:p></o:p></p>
<p><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:12.0pt'>Exemptions
to the charge include emergency vehicles, buses, diplomatic vehicles,
disabled persons vehicles, military vehicles, hybrid or electric cars,
motorcycles and mopeds, and foreign-registered vehicles.<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span
style='font-size:12.0pt'>"The payment gates are equipped with number
plate recognition cameras to record the identity of vehicles."<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:12.0pt'>The
area of <span class=SpellE>Lidingö</span> has its only access to the mainland
through the congestion tax affected area – all traffic to and from <span
class=SpellE>Lidingö</span>, to and from the rest of the </span></font><st1:place><st1:PlaceName>Stockholm</st1:PlaceName>
<st1:PlaceType>County</st1:PlaceType></st1:place>, is exempt from the tax,
provided that one passes the <span class=SpellE>Ropsten</span> payment
station and some other payment station within 30 minutes of each other.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:12.0pt'>The <span
class=SpellE>Essingeleden</span> motorway (E4) that passes through the
effected area is also exempt, due to it being the main road when <span
class=SpellE>travelling</span> past central </span></font><st1:City><st1:place>Stockholm</st1:place></st1:City>.
All exits and entrances of <span class=SpellE>Essingeleden</span> that are
within the congestion tax area have payment stations placed at them.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p><b><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:12.0pt;
font-weight:bold'>CONGESTION CHARGE AREA</span></font></b><o:p></o:p></p>
<p><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:12.0pt'>The
congestion charge area includes the whole of the </span></font><st1:City><st1:place>Stockholm</st1:place></st1:City>
city centre areas such as <span class=SpellE>Södermalm</span>, <span
class=SpellE>Norrmalm</span>, <span class=SpellE>Östermalm</span>, <span
class=SpellE>Vasastaden</span>, <span class=SpellE>Kungsholmen</span>, <span
class=SpellE>Stora</span> <span class=SpellE>Essingen</span>, <span
class=SpellE>Lilla</span> <span class=SpellE>Essingen</span> and <span
class=SpellE>Djurgården</span>. There are 18 unmanned electronic payment
stations at all entrances to this area (this is helped by the fact that <st1:City><st1:place>Stockholm</st1:place></st1:City>
was built on a series of islands). The congestion tax is applied to vehicles
on both entry and exit of the affected area.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:12.0pt'>The
payment gates are equipped with number plate recognition cameras to record
the identity of vehicles passing through. Over 400,000 drivers in </span></font><st1:City><st1:place>Stockholm</st1:place></st1:City>
have already equipped their cars with a transponder for easy payment and can
pay automatically by Autogiro directly from their bank account.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p><b><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:12.0pt;
font-weight:bold'>CHARGES</span></font></b><o:p></o:p></p>
<p><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:12.0pt'>The
amount to pay depends on the time of the day the driver enters or exits the
congestion tax area. The tax may be paid directly via a website or over the
telephone by credit card, or alternatively it can be paid at any 7-11 and <span
class=SpellE>Pressbyrån</span> convenience stores in the City.<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:12.0pt'>The tax
is not paid on Saturdays, Sundays, public holidays or the day before public
holidays, nor during the night time period (</span></font><st1:time Hour="18"
Minute="30">18:30–06:29</st1:time>). The maximum amount of charge per
vehicle per day is 60 <span class=SpellE>SEK</span> (€6.44, $8.23,
£4.42). If the charge is not paid within five days, a reminder is posted to
the driver with an additional charge of 70 <span class=SpellE>SEK</span>; if the
charge is not paid within four weeks an additional fine of 500 <span
class=SpellE>SEK</span> is added and if not paid then the authorities can
automatically remove the amount from the <span class=GramE>offenders</span>
bank account. <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span
style='font-size:12.0pt'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<table class=MsoNormalTable border=0 cellspacing=0 cellpadding=0
style='mso-cellspacing:0cm;mso-padding-alt:2.25pt 2.25pt 2.25pt 2.25pt'
summary="Printable Page - Image Holder">
<tr style='mso-yfti-irow:0'>
<td style='padding:2.25pt 2.25pt 2.25pt 2.25pt'>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span
style='font-size:12.0pt'><img width=150 height=100 id="_x0000_i1034"
src="cid:image001.jpg@01C74B5B.650BAE80"
alt="The Nortull congestion charge gate in Stockholm."><o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
</td>
<td style='padding:2.25pt 2.25pt 2.25pt 2.25pt'>
<p><strong><b><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:
12.0pt'>The <span class=SpellE>Nortull</span> congestion charge gate in </span></font></b></strong><st1:City><st1:place><strong><b><font
face="Times New Roman">Stockholm</font></b></strong></st1:place></st1:City><strong><b><font
face="Times New Roman">.</font></b></strong><o:p></o:p></p>
</td>
</tr>
<tr style='mso-yfti-irow:1'>
<td style='padding:2.25pt 2.25pt 2.25pt 2.25pt'>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span
style='font-size:12.0pt'><img width=150 height=102 id="_x0000_i1035"
src="cid:image002.jpg@01C74B5B.650BAE80"
alt="One of the other 18 payment gates for the Stockholm congestion charge area."><o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
</td>
<td style='padding:2.25pt 2.25pt 2.25pt 2.25pt'>
<p><strong><b><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:
12.0pt'>One of the other 18 payment gates for the </span></font></b></strong><st1:City><st1:place><strong><b><font
face="Times New Roman">Stockholm</font></b></strong></st1:place></st1:City><strong><b><font
face="Times New Roman"> congestion charge area.</font></b></strong><o:p></o:p></p>
</td>
</tr>
<tr style='mso-yfti-irow:2'>
<td style='padding:2.25pt 2.25pt 2.25pt 2.25pt'>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span
style='font-size:12.0pt'><img width=150 height=106 id="_x0000_i1036"
src="cid:image003.jpg@01C74B5B.650BAE80"
alt="A map of the 18 congestion charge gates around Stockholm."><o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
</td>
<td style='padding:2.25pt 2.25pt 2.25pt 2.25pt'>
<p><strong><b><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:
12.0pt'>A map of the 18 congestion charge gates around </span></font></b></strong><st1:City><st1:place><strong><b><font
face="Times New Roman">Stockholm</font></b></strong></st1:place></st1:City><strong><b><font
face="Times New Roman">.</font></b></strong><o:p></o:p></p>
</td>
</tr>
<tr style='mso-yfti-irow:3'>
<td style='padding:2.25pt 2.25pt 2.25pt 2.25pt'>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span
style='font-size:12.0pt'><img width=150 height=102 id="_x0000_i1037"
src="cid:image004.jpg@01C74B5B.650BAE80"
alt="A gate gantry being installed with cameras and transponder technology."><o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
</td>
<td style='padding:2.25pt 2.25pt 2.25pt 2.25pt'>
<p><strong><b><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:
12.0pt'>A gate gantry being installed with cameras and transponder
technology.</span></font></b></strong><o:p></o:p></p>
</td>
</tr>
<tr style='mso-yfti-irow:4'>
<td style='padding:2.25pt 2.25pt 2.25pt 2.25pt'>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span
style='font-size:12.0pt'><img width=150 height=120 id="_x0000_i1038"
src="cid:image005.jpg@01C74B5B.650BAE80"
alt="The Stockholm congestion charge may be paid at convenience stores."><o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
</td>
<td style='padding:2.25pt 2.25pt 2.25pt 2.25pt'>
<p><strong><b><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:
12.0pt'>The </span></font></b></strong><st1:City><st1:place><strong><b><font
face="Times New Roman">Stockholm</font></b></strong></st1:place></st1:City><strong><b><font
face="Times New Roman"> congestion charge may be paid at convenience
stores.</font></b></strong><o:p></o:p></p>
</td>
</tr>
<tr style='mso-yfti-irow:5;mso-yfti-lastrow:yes'>
<td style='padding:2.25pt 2.25pt 2.25pt 2.25pt'>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span
style='font-size:12.0pt'><img width=150 height=99 id="_x0000_i1039"
src="cid:image006.jpg@01C74B5B.650BAE80"
alt="An in-car transponder can provide automatic payments for the congestion charge."><o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
</td>
<td style='padding:2.25pt 2.25pt 2.25pt 2.25pt'>
<p><strong><b><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:
12.0pt'>An in-car transponder can provide automatic payments for the
congestion charge.</span></font></b></strong><o:p></o:p></p>
</td>
</tr>
</table>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span
style='font-size:12.0pt'><br>
<span style='mso-spacerun:yes'> </span><o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
</td>
</tr>
</table>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:
12.0pt'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<!-- DISPLAY TEXT & IMAGES END--></div>
</body>
</html>