By-the-mile road tax could replace by-the-gallon federal fuel tax

[w¡n9Nµ7 §£@¥€r 123]

The year is 2020 and the gasoline tax is history. In its place you get a monthly tax bill based on each mile you drove — tracked by a Global Positioning System device in your car and uploaded to a billing center.

What once was science fiction is being field-tested by the University of Iowa.

...

The traditional by-the-gallon fuel tax, struggling to keep up with road building and maintenance demands, could fall even farther behind as vehicles’ gas mileage rises and more alternative-fuel vehicles come on line.

The idea of shifting to a by-the-mile tax has been discussed for years, but it now appears to be getting more serious attention. A federal commission, after a two-year study, concluded earlier this year that the road tax was the “best path forward” to keep revenues flowing to highway and transportation projects, and could be an important new tool to help manage traffic and relieve congestion.

...

The commission pegged 2020 as the year for the federal fuel tax, currently 18.5 cents a gallon, to be phased out and replaced by a road tax.

http://www.kansascity.com/business/story/1299981.html

[mawilson 2,133]

Not gonna happen -- too Big Brother.

[w¡n9Nµ7 §£@¥€r 123]

Not gonna happen -- too Big Brother.

Any more big brother than your water meter?

[I AM NOT THAT GUY 5,715]

Saw something about this a few months ago. They were also considering a tax based on the total emissions of the car as well. Gross polluter x mega miles = heavy tax.

Edited July 1, 2009 by Mister_Bill

[w¡n9Nµ7 §£@¥€r 123]

Saw something about this a few months ago. They were also considering a tax based on the total emissions of the car as well. Gross poluter x mega miles = heavy tax.

As cars got cleaner, tax revenues would dip. Then they'd have to look at this per-mile thing all over again.

Personally, I think the formula should be based on miles and minutes. Penalize the urban and rural drivers equally.

[mawilson 2,133]

Not gonna happen -- too Big Brother.

Any more big brother than your water meter?

Yes, my water meter doesn't keep track of my whereabouts.

[w¡n9Nµ7 §£@¥€r 123]

Not gonna happen -- too Big Brother.

Any more big brother than your water meter?

Yes, my water meter doesn't keep track of my whereabouts.

The system can be designed to not retain that data.

[mawilson 2,133]

I don't see why they need to install a GPS in my car when a once-a-year odometer check would suffice.

[w¡n9Nµ7 §£@¥€r 123]

I don't see why they need to install a GPS in my car when a once-a-year odometer check would suffice.

That's just how the Univ. of Iowa piloted it. I recall reading about another pilot which involved wireless transmission of your odometer reading every time you pulled into a gas station and doing it that way.

[I AM NOT THAT GUY 5,715]

I don't see why they need to install a GPS in my car when a once-a-year odometer check would suffice.

That's just how the Univ. of Iowa piloted it. I recall reading about another pilot which involved wireless transmission of your odometer reading every time you pulled into a gas station and doing it that way.

And add the tax to the price paid at the pump? Why not?

[mawilson 2,133]

I don't see why they need to install a GPS in my car when a once-a-year odometer check would suffice.

That's just how the Univ. of Iowa piloted it. I recall reading about another pilot which involved wireless transmission of your odometer reading every time you pulled into a gas station and doing it that way.

Why do they have to do it in real time?

Con Edison checks my electricity meter once a month and if I'm not home, they don't break down my door to do it.

They don't install cameras in my apartment to monitor electricity usage either.

I don't see why they need to install a GPS in my car when a once-a-year odometer check would suffice.

That's just how the Univ. of Iowa piloted it. I recall reading about another pilot which involved wireless transmission of your odometer reading every time you pulled into a gas station and doing it that way.

And add the tax to the price paid at the pump? Why not?

And add the cost of connecting all those gas station computers to a database which will record

your past odometer readings.

[w¡n9Nµ7 §£@¥€r 123]

Why do they have to do it in real time?

At the gas station isn't "in real time", it's once a week or so (depending).

Once a year won't work because that tax bill will be huge. Deception is a necessary part of pushing any new tax through, 52 weekly payments of $10 each is less painful than a single payment of $500.

[I AM NOT THAT GUY 5,715]

Haven't you noticed the chip they put in your earlobe yet? Everybody knows doctors are all government agents.

[Jenn! 918]

Some auto insurers are already using GPS technology to rate their insureds.

[mawilson 2,133]

Once a year won't work because that tax bill will be huge. Deception is a necessary part of pushing any new tax through, 52 weekly payments of $10 each is less painful than a single payment of $500.

They can send you "estimated" bills once a week and then give you a refund when they check your actual odometer reading.

Edited July 1, 2009 by mawilson