Oregon looks at taxing mileage instead of gasoline

[kristopher]

PORTLAND, Ore. — Oregon is among a growing number of states exploring ways to tax drivers based on the number of miles they drive instead of how much gas they use, even going so far as to install GPS monitoring devices in 300 vehicles. The idea first emerged nearly 10 years ago as Oregon lawmakers worried that fuel-efficient cars such as gas-electric hybrids could pose a threat to road upkeep, which is paid for largely with gasoline taxes.

"I'm glad we're taking a look at it before the potholes get so big that we can't even get out of them," said Leroy Younglove, a Portland driver who participated in a recent pilot program.

The proposal is not without critics, including drivers who are concerned about privacy and others who fear the tax could eliminate the financial incentive for buying efficient vehicles.

But Oregon is ahead of the nation in exploring the concept, even though it will probably be years before any mileage tax is adopted....

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2009/01/02/oregon-exploring-idea-of-_n_154902.html

[billyoc]

1. Why, that's just crazy enough to be

totally fucking crazy.

[thunder rising]

2. It's not going to happen. Too many problems with reporting, etc.

[know_your_enemy]

3. I could see it happening....

Once the Federal Government catches wind of the idea and uses the pull of their bailout to require the automakers to begin putting reporting chips in cars. I forsee a toll-like system where the sensor will be placed in the windshield and the data fed to a database and you will be billed monthly. It's not that far out of reach.....after all, our tollroads are now almost completely automated...

[BeatleBoot]

4. Just let the On-Star system read your Odometer

I'm pretty certain this could be done relatively easily.

Really dumb idea, but passes feasibility tests.

[scarletwoman]

5. Who comes up with such lame-brained ideas? I live in rural area and it's a 20 mile commute

to my place of employment -- which, because this is a rural area -- pays much lower wages than a similar urban area company could get away with.

So I'd be penalized twice -- living in a rural area where wages are already lower, and where one has to travel farther to find a job. Actually, three times -- there's absolutely no public transit available as an alternative method of commuting.

I have an idea, too. Tax the urbanites who live where mass transit is available, but who still insist on driving their cars instead.

sw

[kristopher]

8. Why should others subsidize your choice of where to live?

You're the one that chose to live on a road used by few others, why shouldn't YOU pay to maintain it?

That is just a snark reply, but it has a kernal of truth to it. In fact, building roads is a shared community obligation and not something that should be funded strictly along "user pays" lines. I don't think the proposal would hit you as hard as you think. It is not really different than the gasoline tax, it just collects the same highway funding revenues in a slightly different way.

[itsrobert]

10. You mean how buses, trains, subways, trolleys are subsidize

for people living in the cities?

[kristopher]

11. No, not like that at all.

Most urban centers provide enough riders that the public transportation systems operate on fares collected.

Whether it is roads, tracks or public transportation, little used routes require subsidies from the more heavily used routes; and in the long run, I believe that is a good way to manage a system.

The snark was more of a reaction to the nature of the complaint I responded to than an expression of my opinion. Scarletwoman didn't really seem to understand the nature of the tax and presented herself as a victim when it wasn't necessary.

[depakid]

6. This proposal comes up every couple of years

Never goes anywhere because it's unworkable and everyone knows it except for the kooks at Oregon State who've gotten grant money over the years to study it and a handful of legislators who see it as an alternative to politically unpopular gas tax hikes.

[Mind_your_head]

7. When is somebody gonna say "GET YOUR DIRTY SHIFTLESS HANDS OUTTA MY POCKETS"

You want me to contribute to roads, SURE, I will! I drive on them. Tell me how much it's gonna cost per annum and I'll pay my fair share.

I'm sick of all these d*mn SCHEMES, and they are schemes and scams, that take more money from people without ANY ACCOUNTABILITY for where the money went (and we all KNOW it went into some undeserving/greedy pocket somewhere).

I'm a FREE PERSON. I'll pay my own fare share, just tell me how you calculate what my 'fair share' is (and if you can't tell me that, then you're most likely a lying, cheating "scammer" ~ and I'm totally FED UP with being cheated any longer!!!!

[FreeJoe]

9. I'm confused

If they want to raise more money, why not just increase the gasoline tax? The only difference between a gas tax and a mileage tax is that the gas tax hits people with less efficient vehicles harder. Why is that a bad thing? Should someone in a 2,000 Prius pay as much as someone in a 6,000 Hummer for each mile driven?

[kristopher]

12. Think a little further ahead...

To a time when the gas tax is already much higher and petroleum use is down dramatically because 50-60% of driving is powered by electricity. The funds are going to be required for maint and new construction adn there is only so much you'll be able to tax gasoline because we must be concerned about the people who are users of vehicles at the end of the vehicle's life cycle. They usually aren't able to afford the new vehicle that will allow them to get away from using petroleum.

A solution to your point could be to correlate the road tax to the vehicle weight and function.