Posted on 05/05/2011 5:42:55 AM PDT by Sub-Driver
Obama floats plan to tax cars by the mile By Pete Kasperowicz - 05/05/11 07:45 AM ET
The Obama administration has floated a transportation authorization bill that would require the study and implementation of a plan to tax automobile drivers based on how many miles they drive.
The plan is a part of the administration's "Transportation Opportunities Act," an undated draft of which was obtained this week by Transportation Weekly.
This follows a March Congressional Budget Office report that supported the idea of taxing drivers based on miles driven.
Among other things, CBO suggested that a vehicle miles traveled (VMT) tax could be tracked by installing electronic equipment on each car to determine how many miles were driven; payment could take place electronically at filling stations.
The CBO report was requested by Senate Budget Committee Chairman Kent Conrad (D-ND), who has proposed taxing cars by the mile as a way to increase federal highway revenues.
Obama's proposal seems to follow up on that idea in section 2218 of the draft bill. That section would create, within the Federal Highway Administration, a Surface Transportation Revenue Alternatives Office. It would be tasked with creating a "study framework that defines the functionality of a mileage-based user fee system and other systems."
The administration seems to be aware of the need to prepare the public for what would likely be a controversial change to the way highway funds are collected. For example, the office is called on to serve a public relations function, as the draft says it should "increase public awareness regarding the need for an alternative funding source for surface transportation programs and provide information on possible approaches."
The draft bill says the "study framework" for the project and a public awareness communications plan should be established within two years of creating the office, and that field tests should begin within four years.
The office would be required to consider four factors in field trials: the capability of states to enforce payment, the reliability of technology, administrative costs, and "user acceptance." The draft does not specify where field trials should begin.
The new office would be funded a total of $200 million through FY 2017 for the project.
...and he’s doin’ a darn good job of it, too!
I guess we give him an “a” for killing America! *mega sigh*
Maybe he should tax golf carts, too, since he logs a lot of miles in them these days.
This would make the complicated much less complicated.
That would most certainly start the ball rolling on exemptions wouldn't it?
Imagine the bureaucracy needed to keep track of this and keep people from cheating.
BTW, doesn’t a new tax need some kind of Congressional approval??
Headline too long.
Should read: “Obama floats”
“Electronic monitors in our cars reporting to the government how far (and where) we drive”
No, I do believe you have this all wrong. This will be an honors program whereby each driver at the end of the year will accurately report the actual miles driven and swear that he/she is being truthful. along with the mileage statement they will send their personal check.
It will be like the Pigford Farmers settlement where people said they were farmers; their statements were taken as true by the government; they received their stash err....checks.
Let’s see. I’ve got a 74, an 85, two 87s, and three 92s. And none of them have the second generation onboard diagnostics. I’m thinking there’s a bunch of “clunkers” out there, they don’t know about.
Did I mention the last new vehicle I bought was a 92? Been buying used ever since. I’m currently looking for a pre-86 Ford with a 300-6 for a natural gas conversion. If you guessed that’s not going to be filled from a commercial filling station, you’re right!
The OBD II spec does not include mileage per se - there is no odometer recording required to be compliant. That said, adding it is not particularly hard and many post-2000 cars do record it in a proprietary format as part of the datalogging that has become popular with manufacturers as a response to the sue-happy American populace. Look for it to be added to the OBD spec as a new release or as OBD-III.
Overwriting such data is not impossible, but it will be extremely difficult for obvious legal reasons. One possible evasion will be to have different ECU/BCMs and swap them out but that will be a pain every time you fill up.
I guess I’m set for life then. I’ve got seven vehicles that were built between 74 and 92.
OBD-II does not inherently record mileage. It does, however, greatly simplify diagnosing problems.
My guess is that if you had time to read the 3,000 page bill the eventually energed, you would find that "green" cars would get another exemption (in addition to the ones they already get).
"Under my plan, energy prices would necessarily skyrocket." (Except the new marxist True Believers.)
Come on! Think green, will you? NO ZIPLOCs.
Yep
Super jerk tells you what one legislation does while slipping the onerous details in another piece of law.
Watch him every second.
Zactly.
I hope they know how to tax my ass because I plan on getting one for travel if gas prices continue to go through the roof.
Okay. Okay.
Let me see now...hmmmmmmm.
How about in a brown envolope? Or any color for that matter.
I am not used to thinking green.
All I;m saying is the less electronics, IMNSHO, the better. Backfitting something to track mileage on an older vehicle is going to be interesting. Much like catalytic convertors and trying to enforce the law in 50 states. Since there’s no emissions testing in this state, mechanics DGAS.
A standalone electronics unit added to an older car can be beat.
That’s when you drop the grounded cover made out of copper screen over the GPs unit. I don’t know officer. The signal must have been weak.
They won't confront directly IMO. They will do something bureaucratic like require the installation of the device for vehicle registration renewal.
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