but it's purpose is to lower congestion, and the fee varies with time of day based on congestion, and the people who pay it are contributing to the congestion so ... it's a congestion priced fee. Not clear it's a tax at all, in the same way a fishing permit is not called a tax.

Does your state government send you a portion of toll receipts, DMV licensing fees, etc, etc, etc?

So that makes those taxes too?

And even if they are taxes, so what?

Congestion pricing in NYC is a tax on the selfish. And it's not nearly high enough. It should be at least ten times higher.