States Mull Taxing Drivers By Mile

[Useruser666]

States Mull Taxing Drivers By Mile

CORVALLIS, Ore., Feb. 14, 2005



Taxing By The Mile

Jayson Just commutes 2,000 miles a month. (Photo: CBS)



"Drivers will get charged for how many miles they use the roads, and it's as simple as that."
David Kim,
engineer

Toyota's fuel-efficient hybrid (Photo: AP)


(CBS) College student Jayson Just commutes an odometer-spinning 2,000 miles a month. As CBS News Correspondent Sandra Hughes reports, his monthly gas bill once topped his car payment.

"I was paying about $500 a month," says Just.

So Just bought a fuel efficient hybrid and said goodbye to his gas-guzzling BMW.

And what kind of mileage does he get?

"The EPA estimate is 60 in the city, 51 on the highway," says Just.

And that saves him almost $300 a month in gas. It's great for Just but bad for the roads he's driving on, because he also pays a lot less in gasoline taxes which fund highway projects and road repairs. As more and more hybrids hit the road, cash-strapped states are warning of rough roads ahead.

Officials in car-clogged California are so worried they may be considering a replacement for the gas tax altogether, replacing it with something called "tax by the mile."

Seeing tax dollars dwindling, neighboring Oregon has already started road testing the idea.

"Drivers will get charged for how many miles they use the roads, and it's as simple as that," says engineer David Kim.

Kim and his team at Oregon State University equipped a test car with a global positioning device to keep track of its mileage. Eventually, every car would need one.

"So, if you drive 10 miles you will pay a certain fee which will be, let's say, one tenth of what someone pays if they drive 100 miles," says Kim.

The new tax would be charged each time you fill up. A computer inside the gas pump would communicate with your car's odometer to calculate how much you owe.

The system could also track how often you drive during rush hour and charge higher fees to discourage peak use. That's an idea that could break the bottleneck on California's freeways.

"We're getting a lot of interest from other states," says Jim Whitty of the Oregon Department of Transportation. "They're watching what we're doing.

"Transportation officials across the country are concerned about what's going to happen with the gas tax revenues."

Privacy advocates say it's more like big brother riding on your bumper, not to mention a disincentive to buy fuel-efficient cars.

"It's not fair for people like me who have to commute, and we don't have any choice but take the freeways," says Just. "We shouldn't have to be taxed."

But tax-by-mile advocates say it may be the only way to ensure that fuel efficiency doesn't prevent smooth sailing down the road.

[JoeChalupa]

Why I oughta!!! :cuss

[N.Y. Johnny]

time to bust out the Bicycle then and go that route.

[SpursWoman]

Sounds like the people you see at the gas station putting their last $3.87 until payday into their tanks will be shit out of luck.

[Useruser666]

So could I go take my truck and fill up on 500 gallons of gas. Then go home and fill up my family and the neighbors cars without paying the tax?

[Sec24Row7]

wha?

User....

that's nice... what about people like me that drive 300 miles a week on ranch roads.

That would be really fair.

Let me pay taxes for public roads for the driving time that I do on my ranch roads that I maintain with my money...

Idiots.

[Useruser666]

wha?

User....

that's nice... what about people like me that drive 300 miles a week on ranch roads.

That would be really fair.

Let me pay taxes for public roads for the driving time that I do on my ranch roads that I maintain with my money...

Idiots.

No see Sec24Row7, I would use my truck with low milage to buy the gas. The tax is colected at the pumps by checking how many miles the vehicle that is getting the gas has driven. I would then drive home and transfer the gas from my truck to all the other family cars. I could cut you in too.

[spurster]

Just set the tax on gas to meet whatever revenue is needed. The gas tax has the added benefit of encouraging fuel-efficient cars, which this stupid idea discourages.

[Samurai Jane]

They've actually been running pilot programs similar to this (paying by the mile) for auto insurance too. It should be interesting to see what happens.

[Extra Stout]

Just set the tax on gas to meet whatever revenue is needed. The gas tax has the added benefit of encouraging fuel-efficient cars, which this stupid idea discourages.I think discouraging the purchase of fuel-efficient vehicles is part of the rationale. Under this plan, oil companies, American automobile manufacturers, and truck freight companies all benefit.

[MannyIsGod]

Fuck them sticking a damn GPS device on my car. Oh wait, I don't have a car.

[Useruser666]

Fuck them sticking a damn GPS device on my car. Oh wait, I don't have a car.

I can see you with a 6' satellite dish on your bike! :lol

Those damn cyclists get off tax free!

[MannyIsGod]

Well you know, we really don't pollute.

[Useruser666]

Well you know, we really don't pollute.

Well, you know, that's not why they want to pass that tax.

[Clandestino]

it is a bs tax.. everyone uses the roads.. whether you drive on them or you get your goods delivered by the roads... you use them.. everyone should pay for them.

[Spurminator]

Here's a proposition... And I just thought of it so I don't know whether I'm for or against it... What if every freeway was "toll"? Every car would be required to have some sort of "Toll Tag" device, and the toll tax would be paid monthly. I'm sure this would cause people to try to use back roads more frequently, but they would have to deal with driving an hour to work and back every morning.

[Useruser666]

Here's a proposition... And I just thought of it so I don't know whether I'm for or against it... What if every freeway was "toll"? Every car would be required to have some sort of "Toll Tag" device, and the toll tax would be paid monthly. I'm sure this would cause people to try to use back roads more frequently, but they would have to deal with driving an hour to work and back every morning.

http://img181.exs.cx/img181/4599/houston4ph.gif

[Spurminator]

LOL...

Actually, when I lived in Houston, I never took the toll road. I think Dallas is worse, actually.

[Useruser666]

http://img213.exs.cx/img213/8421/dallas2es.gif

[Spurminator]

:lmao

[MannyIsGod]

Dallas is worse but the amounts are worse in Houston. That being said, I don't mind toll roads.

[Useruser666]

Toll roads suck too if you need to use one everyday.

[MannyIsGod]

because there would be no alternate routes correct?

[Useruser666]

because there would be no alternate routes correct?

In some cases there are not any alternatives. They aren't going to make toll roads that have easy or free alternatives.

[Hook Dem]

My brother-in-law lives in Houston right off Beltway8 and he has yet to purchase a toll tag or even enter the Beltway. He dodges it by staying on the frontage roads. Talk about cheap. I'm sure he's not alone. :lol

[Shelly]

Orange County in CA has a few toll roads now. They have this program called FasTrak. You get this transmitter device and as you pass through the toll, the transmitter beeps and deducts the toll from your balance. Or you can stop and pay the toll. The toll roads are great because as horrific as CA's traffic is, these freeways are usually empty.

Aren't there rumblings of making 1604 a toll road?

[Useruser666]

Parts pf 1604(new lanes), 1516, parts of 281 and/or the 281-1604 interchange, parts of 35 from 1604 to 410 (Northeast side. I think all the props have been for adding new seperate lanes that are toll.

[Hook Dem]

Solution = move to Langtry Texas. Population....30 :lol

[MannyIsGod]

Seriously, toll roads are great because they are fast and pay for themselves. There are always alternatives.

[Clandestino]

Seriously, toll roads are great because they are fast and pay for themselves. There are always alternatives.

yeah, but what about the roads we built with taxpayer money here in sa that they want to now start charging for? pretty bs...

[Useruser666]

Seriously, toll roads are great because they are fast and pay for themselves. There are always alternatives.

For someone who doesn't even have a car you sure know a lot about toll roads. There ARE NOT always alternatives. Even if there are, they may take a much longer route or jam with congestion. Is it enviromentally friendly if you have tons of traffic taking back roads and runing through neighborhoods? How would you like it if all of a sudden it costs $40 bucks a month more to drive to work?

[Clandestino]

For someone who doesn't even have a car you sure know a lot about toll roads. There ARE NOT always alternatives. Even if there are, they may take a much longer route or jam with congestion. Is it enviromentally friendly if you have tons of traffic taking back roads and runing through neighborhoods? How would you like it if all of a sudden it costs $40 bucks a month more to drive to work?

manny only knows what he has read...he really has never been out of his house...

[SpursWoman]

I especially like the toll roads in Houston where you pay to get on, and then have to pay to GTF off.

:wtf :lol


Is it enviromentally friendly if you have tons of traffic taking back roads and running through neighborhoods?

That's what always puzzled me about them. Raising money? Check. Environmentally friendly? Not really. It's one or the other...people aren't just going to quit driving whether they take the toll roads or the back roads.

[Clandestino]

I especially like the toll roads in Houston where you pay to get on, and then have to pay to GTF off.

:wtf :lol


in italy, when you get on, you just grab a ticket... then you have to pay to get off! sneaky fuggers!

[Useruser666]

I can see the tire marks running over all the medians now! :lol That and what happens when the people get to the end and they have no money?

[SpursWoman]

I can see the tire marks running over all the medians now! :lol That and what happens when the people get to the end and they have no money?

You drive down a few more exits and get off the highway for free. Is that not stupid?

[Clandestino]

You drive down a few more exits and get off the highway for free. Is that not stupid?

the only way off is thru the pay exits! unless you crashing over barriers....

[MannyIsGod]

For someone who doesn't even have a car you sure know a lot about toll roads. There ARE NOT always alternatives. Even if there are, they may take a much longer route or jam with congestion. Is it enviromentally friendly if you have tons of traffic taking back roads and runing through neighborhoods? How would you like it if all of a sudden it costs $40 bucks a month more to drive to work?

For someone who loves to run thier mouth about everything, you don't do much research on anything.

Ok, I haven't had a car for 3 freaking months.

There ARE always alternatives. You mean to tell me they build toll roads to places that no other roads go? Show me one place in this damn country that is only accessible by toll roads. ONE.

Why is it that you have tunnel vision on every damn subject we talk about in here? It's like you can't use your brain to think outside of a really fucking small box.

Any initative that rasies the costs of driving a vehicle has an enviromentaly friendly impact, all beit indirectly. When the costs of gas, maintaining a vehicle, using a vehicle, or driving in general go up it has several side effects:

1. People drive less.
2. People are more likely to car pool.
3. People are more likely to use mass transit.

Those effects are all greater than some supposed traffic jam in a sub division.

Can you see how all of that can be friendlier to the enviroment?

This is why the EPA places larger penalties in cities such as Houston. Go to Houston and get your state inspection sticker, and you will see that is more than twice as expensive as what you pay in San Antonio because of air quality.

So go ahead and view things through your idiot colored glasses, but don't act as if me not having my own vehicle for 3 months makes me an idiot on the subject.

Oh, and I wont hold my breath waiting for a location only accesible by toll roads.

[Clandestino]

There ARE always alternatives. You mean to tell me they build toll roads to places that no other roads go? Show me one place in this damn country that is only accessible by toll roads. ONE. yes, there are other routes, but not easily accessible... try not using a freeway to get anywhere...it'd take you hours vs minutes...



Any initative that rasies the costs of driving a vehicle has an enviromentaly friendly impact, all beit indirectly. When the costs of gas, maintaining a vehicle, using a vehicle, or driving in general go up it has several side effects:

1. People drive less.
2. People are more likely to car pool.
3. People are more likely to use mass transit.

Those effects are all greater than some supposed traffic jam in a sub division.

Can you see how all of that can be friendlier to the enviroment?

not always... our gas is way higher than it used to be... and we are still consuming oil and gas at the same pace, if not higher. in the united states, where there is not a good public transportation system in the majority of places you still have to drive a car no matter how expensive gas is..

[Shelly]

. People drive less.
2. People are more likely to car pool.
3. People are more likely to use mass transit.

Manny, that will never happen.

Califorina has had carpool lanes for YEARS. You have to have 2 or more people to drive in these lanes and if you get busted driving solo, it's a hefty fine. These lanes were built for the very reasons above and yet CA's freeways are just as congested as ever. California's car regristration and gas prices are sky high and again the freeways are clogged.

People love their cars too much.

[SpursWoman]

People love their cars too much.


Exactly. And 500,000 people going to work in the morning is still 500,000 people going to work, whether they are on the highway or backed up from hell on the frontage roads to avoid the toll.

[Useruser666]

For someone who loves to run thier mouth about everything, you don't do much research on anything.

Well isn't that a case of pot calling the kettle black.

Ok, I haven't had a car for 3 freaking months.

There ARE always alternatives. You mean to tell me they build toll roads to places that no other roads go? Show me one place in this damn country that is only accessible by toll roads. ONE.

No I don't mean to tell you that, because I never said that. There are however, bridges that have tolls on them that make alternative routes ridiculous. Those instances may not be ones from around these parts, but they do exsist.
Why is it that you have tunnel vision on every damn subject we talk about in here? It's like you can't use your brain to think outside of a really fucking small box.

Any initative that rasies the costs of driving a vehicle has an enviromentaly friendly impact, all beit indirectly. When the costs of gas, maintaining a vehicle, using a vehicle, or driving in general go up it has several side effects:

1. People drive less.

Why would toll roads make people drive less? If they didn't want to pay the toll they would have to drive FARTHER to get around it. You talk about alternates and then don't consider that people will have to drive farther to use them? Maybe people will drive less to avoid the costs. I don't know that there is evidence to support that theory.
2. People are more likely to car pool.
Quite possibly.
3. People are more likely to use mass transit.
What mass transit in SA? VIA? Maybe a little more.

Those effects are all greater than some supposed traffic jam in a sub division.

Those effects are greater unless you live in that subdivision where all that new traffic will be coming through. How do you think heavy traffic flow will effect neighborhood streets?

Can you see how all of that can be friendlier to the enviroment?

I could see that if SA had a state of the art mass transit system and was a city that wasn't spread over such a large geographic area how it might work.

This is why the EPA places larger penalties in cities such as Houston. Go to Houston and get your state inspection sticker, and you will see that is more than twice as expensive as what you pay in San Antonio because of air quality.

The EPA places larger penalties on cities such as Houston because they have toll roads? I know toll roads have nothing to do with those cities having higher costs of gas and registrations, but it's funny that you point out two near by cities that have both higher costs of driving and toll roads.

So go ahead and view things through your idiot colored glasses, but don't act as if me not having my own vehicle for 3 months makes me an idiot on the subject.

Sorry for that dig man! :lol

Oh, and I wont hold my breath waiting for a location only accesible by toll roads.

Why don't you pull your head out of your ass first? Then maybe you can find me the place where I said that toll roads are the only way to get to certain areas? I never said that, so you should have a fun time finding it.

[Shelly]

Aren't toll roads privately owned? They are in CA.

Another example of people's love affair with their car. They Bay area has BART. People use BART all the time and I know it does go under the bay. Not sure if it goes to Oakland, Marin County, or both. The only other way into to San Francisco is either the Bay Bridge or the Golden Gate bridge (both toll). During rush hour both bridges are jammed because people choose to drive themselves.

Another reason there are so many damn cars on the roads is because they will put 10 houses on a lot the size of a postage stamp. When I moved to CA in 1982, there was no traffic at all. Everytime I go back, I'm amazed at how many new developments have been built since the last time I was there.