Tax per mile replacing per gallon

[ripcord]

I have a relative that is in the program here in California testing to see how a per mile tax plan can be implemented to replace the current per gallon tax. He says it is going fine and they have the tax to where it is close to the price he pays per gallon and soon they will switch from odometer tracking to tracking GPS data and this is where I have a problem. I'm not sure how much data will be transferred and that bothers me, the government be it, state, federal or local doesn't need a plot of locations I have visited. I'm not sure I would ever trust them because there is no way for me to know, other than taking their word, how much data they are getting. I would prefer adding WiFi to the odometers so they are only getting the distance traveled and nothing else.

[Demsrule86]

1. It is a terrible idea and won't fly anywhere except California

[ck4829]

2. Wow, that sounds awful. Even more onus on the consumer.

Why not mandatory donations of your first born to the board of ExxonMobil while we're at it?

[Wounded Bear]

3. The same "concerns" as always...

not saying they aren't genuine, I guess, but most opposition I've heard is from people who have enjoyed their "tax free" ride in their EVs and suddenly go all GOP when it comes to taxing mileage to cover their use of the public roads. If people really cared about being "tracked" they'd ditch their cell phones.

What the hell? I shifted insurance carriers to one that now charges by the mile. I plugged a sensor into my vehicle port. Most months, I pay less then I did before because I don't drive a lot. I drive an ICE, because any replacement vehicle just isn't in my budget right now. I'd go hybrid if I could.

The mileage tax is the way to go. It's ultimately more fair for all.

[ripcord]

4. I don't drive a hybrid or EV

I just don't think the government needs any more information about my driving than how many miles I have driven, I will not be happy with any type of GPS tracking.

[muriel_volestrangler]

8. A tax on carbon is far fairer

The people who are doing good for the public by switching to an EV should have the incentive to do so. If you tax EVs at the same mileage rate as ICE vehicles, then them time when you can go hybrid will be delayed even more.

Taxing fuel is one way of taxing greenhouse gas production.

[MissMillie]

5. that's higher taxes on people who can't afford to live near their job

And it discourages use of vehicles that are more fuel efficient.

[Jack the Greater]

6. My first thought is that this penalizes owners of cars that get high mileage

... but then I thought that with the advent of the electric car, this seems the only practical way to fund roads and highways.

[SKKY]

7. As EV's become more prevalent, they have to do something like this...

...I would rather they apply a tax to chargers, or if you charge at home a fee added to your bill, but the money will have to come from somewhere.

[PoliticAverse]

9. "tracking GPS data" - no potential for abuse there, certainly not. Nothing to see here, please...

drive along...