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I've been hearing about this for several years. In our state (Oregon) they tested a very similar program in 2006 - 2007.
I think ideally it's a great idea, sure, but nobody in their right mind is going to vote for it. Perhaps the people that already use public transportation or ride their bikes exclusively, they might like to "stick it" to the car-drivers, or they would vote for it because it wouldn't affect them. But anyone who depends on a car - which is most of us - isn't going to want to do this.
To get something like this to pass, they would have to offer some kind of incentive program. Or they would have to give you some kind of option - either this or pay higher registration and licensing fees or something like that. But I really don't see people agreeing to paying both.
Or who knows. Maybe we won't even get a vote. The way things are going. Lots of things are happening lately that we didn't even get to voice our opinion on. They might just start this program and maybe it will help people drive less and think about things a little more... ?
As the use of hybrids and electric cars expands some mechanism to tax these vehicles is needed because they aren't paying anything to fund building and maintaining the roads they are driving on. At the moment they are being subsidized by gas powered cars. Removal of the gas tax at the pump and moving those taxes to a mileage fee is the fairest way to assess them.
The traditional gas tax is not perfect but it is fair to some degree. Generally larger and heavier vehicles which do more damage to the road use more fuel and pay more to use the roads. Ideally any new tax would use a formula based on the expected average weight of the vehicle and miles driven.
What I wouldn't support is doing this through GPS, perhaps assessing these when the car is inspected.
I'd also support a moderate increase in the revenue collected as long as every penny went to roads and bridges.
As the use of hybrids and electric cars expands some mechanism to tax these vehicles is needed because they aren't paying anything to fund building and maintaining the roads they are driving on. At the moment they are being subsidized by gas powered cars. Removal of the gas tax at the pump and moving those taxes to a mileage fee is the fairest way to assess them.
The traditional gas tax is not perfect but it is fair to some degree. Generally larger and heavier vehicles which do more damage to the road use more fuel and pay more to use the roads. Ideally any new tax would use a formula based on the expected average weight of the vehicle and miles driven.
What I wouldn't support is doing this through GPS, perhaps assessing these when the car is inspected.
I'd also support a moderate increase in the revenue collected as long as every penny went to roads and bridges.
I agree with you on this coalman. While I hate seeing taxes raised, I would be OK with a modest increase in the gas tax IF AND ONLY IF these funds are given exclusively to roads and bridges and the maintenance of them. NO diverting these extra revenues to some general fund where the money goes into a black hole.
I read the article & this tax will affect only drivers of electric cars cause they dont pay gas tax. Thats fair but as far as taxing people who drive gas powered car i highly doubt that will happen. Lets just hope obama doesnt get re-elected next yr (i doubt it if he will but you never know cause many voters arent too bright).
... as far as taxing people who drive gas powered car i highly doubt that will happen.
They are already taxed through the fuel tax, if this were added to gasoline vehicles then then they would be taxed double. Ultimately moving to a mileage/weight tax for all vehicles is the fairest solution however I do not like the suggestion it be implemented using GPS.
This GPS method brings up another question, how could they make such a tax backwards compatible if they did do it with GPS? Really not possible without enormous expense to the consumer.
While I hate seeing taxes raised, I would be OK with a modest increase in the gas tax IF AND ONLY IF these funds are given exclusively to roads and bridges and the maintenance of them.
I hate seeing them go up too but the federal gas tax hasn't gone up since the early 90's. The fact is our infrastructure is crumbling and we need increased funding for roads and bridges. Nobody wants to touch it on either side of the aisle, they just keep kicking the can down the road.
As the use of hybrids and electric cars expands some mechanism to tax these vehicles is needed because they aren't paying anything to fund building and maintaining the roads they are driving on. At the moment they are being subsidized by gas powered cars. Removal of the gas tax at the pump and moving those taxes to a mileage fee is the fairest way to assess them.
The traditional gas tax is not perfect but it is fair to some degree. Generally larger and heavier vehicles which do more damage to the road use more fuel and pay more to use the roads. Ideally any new tax would use a formula based on the expected average weight of the vehicle and miles driven.
What I wouldn't support is doing this through GPS, perhaps assessing these when the car is inspected.
I'd also support a moderate increase in the revenue collected as long as every penny went to roads and bridges.
Ugh, I don't really like this idea but I'm not really gonna oppose it if they decide to pass it.. unless I must go purchase one of their GPSs to drive my own car!
I the end as cars egt more milegae and there is still a ned to maintain roads somethig has to be done. Actually a mileage is a much more fair user fee based system.
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