[oliwarner]

> We don't live in a dictatorship and so absolutes [..] don't really happen.

Of course they do and their existence isn't evidence of a dictatorship. These laws come about via elected bodies.

Raising taxes is perhaps even worse in terms of the message. "You can have this thing but you'll have to be minted to afford it." It lends prestige to something which might just be unnecessary. If it is, just ban it. Certain classes of vehicle used within cities are a good first step.