DMV Chief Backs Tax by Mile (More Abject Absurdity From Schwarzenegger Administration-IMO)

Los Angeles Times ^ | 11/16/2004 | Robert Salladay

[SierraWasp]

DMV Chief Backs Tax by Mile
New appointee has advocated a levy based on how much and where motorists drive. Idea is gaining support, but privacy advocates worry.

By Robert Salladay Times Staff Writer

November 16, 2004

SACRAMENTO — Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger on Monday appointed a new Department of Motor Vehicles director who has advocated taxing motorists for every mile they drive — by placing tracking devices in their cars.

The idea would mean a significant overhaul of how California collects taxes to maintain its often-crumbling roads. Under the plan, the state gas tax — now 18 cents a gallon — would be replaced with a tax on every mile traveled by each car and truck.

The notion has not been endorsed by Schwarzenegger but is gaining acceptance among transportation and budget experts. As Californians drive increasingly more fuel-efficient cars, state officials are alarmed that the gasoline tax will not raise enough money to keep up with road needs.

Charging people for the miles they drive also worries some owners of hybrid cars, because it could wipe out any gas-tax savings they now enjoy.

Dan Beal, managing director of public policy for the Automobile Club of Southern California, said altering the system would remove one incentive to buying new-technology hybrid cars like the Toyota Prius, because its owner would pay the same fuel tax as a Hummer owner.

"You are arguing against people taking risks on technology development," said Beal, warning that some mile-tracking systems could invite fraud more than the reliable tax meters at the pump.

Any change in the state's gasoline tax would have to be approved by the Legislature.

[SierraWasp]

Freedom to move about has been one of America's most essential freedoms! Governor Schwarzenegger should be humiliated over this appointee that should work on making the lines move faster, not tax our freedom to move around, the more we move around!! What an entire pantload!!!

[P-Marlowe]

Political rule #1 in California. Don't mess with my car.

I hope Schwartzenegger learned from the recall because if he advocates this stupid proposal, John & Ken and the rest of California will move to recall his million dollar behind.

[BJungNan]

California newspaper has a poll asking if there is too much regulation of business.

Poll link here
(So far only 46 total votes. Should be easy to influence)

[SierraWasp]

Remember the tripling of the DMV fees???

Here comes another doozey, befitting the Davis maladministration!!!

[flashbunny]

What a moronic idea.

Replace the gas tax with the mileage tax, where mileage is tracked by a device installed by the government.

All the people that visit california every year on business or vacations drive thru, fill up their tanks, and pay the gas tax.

That revenue will be lost. Or are they going to slap on the tracking devices at the border?

[technomage]

Let's see: In Kalifornia the supposed enviromental movement is king. They have tried for decades to get people to use less gas (i.e. more fuel efficient vehicles).

So, now the peeples are using more fuel efficient vehicles and what does the Kalifornia government want to do? Penalize the peeples for conservation, for being enviromentally friendly.

Liberalism: A mind is a terrible thing to waste.

[DB]

If Schwarzenegger wants to see what a recall election looks like from the other side, continue advocating tracking devices in everybody's cars...

[tortoise]

The solution to this is simple. I'll simple do what I use to do: register my vehicles and residence in Nevada. Nevada, being the opportunistic State that it is, practically encourages this.

I let the officialness of my Nevada citizenship lapse since there was no practical benefit, but California is trying so hard to give me so many reasons to re-assert Nevada citizenship. I can do the tax math, as can a lot of other Californians.

[SteveH]

Political rule #1 in California. Don't mess with my car.

Corollary:

Auto rule #1 in California. Stop buying new cars-- buy classic cars greater than 30 years old, retrofit them with new engines, and drive on without smog control and tracking devices.

[agitator]

[little jeremiah]

I'm just sick of Schwarzenegger. I didn't even want to read this or reply to it.

I remember California when it was all different. I don't like what it's become.

Why don't they just make us all work and take all our money and provide little houses next to each other for us to live in? Why bother with pretending to let us have money and take it away be myriad methods? It slips out of our hands so fast we get money burn.

Why not tax those of us that breathe more air.

[Oldexpat]

We need an iniatitive on the ballot to forbid this tracking.
They are talking the same nonsense in Oregon.
The gas tax is the fairest way to pay for our transportation system..our one true flat tax.
Smaller lighter cars use less gas and cause less wear and tear on the roads.
Remember Prop 13!!

[John Lenin]

he rest of California will move to recall his million dollar behind.

Sign me up, where do I donate ?

[hedgetrimmer]

Governor Schwarzenegger should be humiliated over this appointee

Why should the Governor be humiliated when this person was known to have been working on this plan for the last 20 years and lately worked on it at the Mineta Transportation institute?

The Governor knows exactly what he is doing, by appointing land use planners to high level posts, by requiring "smart growth" to get transportation funds, then appointing this cheerleader for totalitarian taxation schemes based on limiting freedom of movement, its clear the governor has a "vision" for California.

[Porterville]

California newspaper has a poll asking if there is too much regulation of business.

Too much regulation of life.

[newzjunkey]

I think you all need a visit from Captain Obvious since your blind hatred of Arnold won't allow you to read the article:

The proposal "has not been endorsed by Schwarzenegger."

[hedgetrimmer]

Why don't they just make us all work and take all our money and provide little houses next to each other for us to live in?

The governor has a plan to do just this. They are called "smart growth transportation villages" They are situated on rail or trolley lines and they are very high density housing units, just like the former Soviet Union used to build for its workforce. Combined with his plan for workforce development coming out of his California Performance Review, California will soon be a model soviet collective, run by the man who would be president.

http://www.freedom21santacruz.net/advance/html/modules.php?op=modload&name=News&file=article&sid=126&mode=thread&order=0&thold=0

http://www.freedom21santacruz.net/advance/html/modules.php?op=modload&name=News&file=article&sid=65&mode=thread&order=0&thold=0

[little jeremiah]

I must be psychic.

I mean, having money would just confuse us, anyway.

[sissyjane]

Since my husband and I are new retiree's I think I might like this. We are moving into the mountains, and if we want to travel---we're out-a-here!!!!

Our new home is a small area, and compared to the miles we have put on in commutes this will be a piece of cake.


UNFORTUNATELY THE REST OF THE TAX-PAYERS ARE DOOMED BY THIS !!!

So if Arnold is trying to help older Californians I guess this is good--otherwise YOU'RE F&$)^D.....

[ambrose]

This reminds of Ahnold's plan to allow animal shelters to zap pound puppies almost immediately, rather than be required to wait five days so the owner could claim his lost dog. That proposal didn't last very long, and I suspect this one won't either.