BERN, SWITZERLAND – A project to develop an electronic system to replace Switzerland’s annual highway use sticker is being backed by the lower house of parliament. The only party to oppose a change to electronic from the paper sticker is the right-wing UDC (People’s Party), which successfully led opposition to government efforts to increase the price from CHF40 to 100 a year.

The project hasn’t yet taken shape and a number of alternatives are being presented. At one end is a system that would simply allow online purchases and create an easier system for people with more than one vehicle and for tourists.

The left is backing a “connected” system that could go as far as tracking vehicles’ use and charging according to kilometres driven and use of peak times.

The right fears that a tracking system would be too invasive and not be in line with Swiss privacy laws.

The debate is in its early stages.