Posted on 10/05/2010 11:01:36 AM PDT by Willie Green
A tax on vehicle miles traveled (VMT) was shot down last year by President Obama. But a new study by respected transportation experts – and a successful pilot program in Oregon – should revive the idea.
As more Americans buy hybrid or electric cars, drivers in traditional gas-only vehicles are bound to start asking: Why should I still be paying more in fuel taxes? Don’t we all use the highways?
Indeed, the gas tax is quickly becoming an unjust way to finance the costs of roads and bridges. All vehicles, whether they be a Hummer or a Prius, use the same infrastructure, which needs to be built and maintained regardless of a car’s fuel type.
There is an alternative, one that is fair, already proven, and, based on a new study by some 80 experts, the best way to start financing surface transportation.
It is a pay-as-you-go fee system based simply on distance, or a tax on “vehicle miles traveled” (VMT). The idea is the centerpiece recommendation of the study, released Monday, called “Well Within Reach: America’s New Transportation Agenda.” The report is based on a recent three-day conference of experts at the University of Virginia.
Oregon already tested a VMT system in 2006-07, using 299 volunteer motorists. The pilot program equipped their vehicles with devices that allowed gas stations to track their mileage during each fill-up. More than 90 percent of the participants said they would agree to use it in lieu of the gas tax, and the state’s governor is now seeking $10 million to expand the program.
(Excerpt) Read more at csmonitor.com ...
Are you trying to make sense?
That is NOT allowed!
Wouldn’t that serve as a disincentive to purchase fuel efficient vehicles?
I don't recall if Oregon ever came out and said a road use tax will replace the gas tax.
I’m guessing it's going to be in addition to, rather than a replacement.
Beat me by 18 seconds.
80 Experts That right there is a flag that it is a huge pile of Bravo Sierra
“A tax on vehicle miles traveled (VMT) was shot down last year by President Obama.”
As much as he travels, I can understand why, but I can’t believe he actually met a tax he didn’t like.
Taxing drivers by the mile AND by the gallon.
There. Fixed it.
I believe the tax on telephones to finance the Spanish-American war, was repealed recently.
Typical big government BS. People are buying cars that get better gas mileage, thus paying less gas tax, so now they want to tax the miles. Liberals are always looking to punish success.
Just one problem. It does take money to build and maintain roads. A lot of money.
If the money does not come from a gas tax or a tax on miles driven, it will have to come from some other type of tax. Which do you propose? Income, sales, property, estate?
The alternative, of course, is to cut back on highway construction and maintenance, but then many people already complain about inadequate maintenance.
I’m sure a lot of money is wasted by the road departments, but at some point cutting back on funding results in a lower level of quality. That’s the cost of lower taxes in this case.
I know the answer: we should all ride trains!
Hey, that's a good idea!
I wish I had thought of that!
Actually, heavier vehicles cause more wear and tear on the infrastructure, and use more fuel, thus pay more tax per mile. The fuel tax is more fair than a mileage tax, and much less intrusive.
How in tarnation does a gas station track my miles between fillups?
Maybe the electric cars need to pay by the mile, but those of us who drive older vehicles pay alot in gas taxes now. We don’t need any more tax applied.
If half the time and creative energy went into solving the world’s problems that goes into thinking about how to tax citizens of the world’s nations, we’d all be living in a modern Utopia.
At what point will we be asked to simply hand over all assets to The State?
What about the Federal Excise Tax on tires?
You left out, “We know exactly where you went, and want to talk with you about it.”
Actually, I have no problem with a market based solution. You buy fuel based on your vehicle’s fuel economy, how much you travel ect. I did the math myself and they are pretty correct in that .01 per mile is approximately the same as .184 per gal. There is no major difference except that it does not allow a more fuel efficent user to gain an advantage over another. It’s just equal application against all users of the highway.
Here in lies the rub though: how do you implement it effectively to where your neighbor can’t steal your ID if you have to punch in a highway tax ID #, or keep the fed gov from putting a GPS system on your car and knowing where you are 24/7/365. If they’d stop robbing the damned trust fund, they could rebuild our roads. Also, if they stopped printing money, the inflationary burn on .184 dollars per gal would actually still be worth a bit more.
Reality check…Higher miles per gallon, less fuel tax!
What a load…this is not about miles driven or the roads.
Have to fund the “Life Styles of the Corrupt and Political” somehow; this is what people are unhappy about.
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