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US Contemplating 'Vehicle Miles Traveled' Tax

Posted by Soulskill on from the take-that-california dept.

dawgs72 writes "This week the Congressional Budget Office released a report saying that taxing people based on how many miles they drive is a possible option for raising new revenues, and that these taxes could be used to offset the costs of highway maintenance. The proposed tax would be enforced through the use of electronic metering devices installed on all vehicles. The mileage tax is being considered instead of an increase in the gas tax in order to tax hybrids, EVs, and conventional automobiles equally."

3 of 1,306 comments (clear)

  1. Why federal, again? by LordLimecat · · Score: 5, Interesting

    I ask this quesiton sincerely-- I honestly would like an answer from those who agree with this.

    If I lived in Arkansas, and I only drive on local roads in state, and I do 3-4000 miles a year doing so,... why would this be justified by either Constitution or 10th amendment? I dont mean to troll or attack, but I cannot conceive of why this should be federally managed. I am not against seatbelt laws or think that all regulation or social programs are evil, but honestly, shouldnt there be a limit to what the Fed deals with?

  2. 4th power of the axle wieght by mdsolar · · Score: 5, Interesting

    Road damage goes as the 4th power of the axle weight so a Honda Insight does essentially no damage. An Escalade does do damage. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Road#Maintenance

    I'd rather not see a miles traveled tax. It would be better to have a new vehicle fee proportional to the expected life of the vehicle and the 4th power of the axle weight. That cost gets passed along proportionally in the further sale of the vehicle.

  3. The first round of cuts should be simple by EMB+Numbers · · Score: 5, Interesting

    We have a larger navy than the next 11 countries combined, and 9 of those are our allies.
    Step 1) Reduce navy to the save of the next 5 countries combined.

    We have more agriculture department employees than there are farmers.
    Step 2) Eliminate all farm subsidies and cut the agriculture department to the bone.

    We fight too many wars
    Step 3) Stop fighting wars and eliminate supplemental war expenditures.

    Stop fighting the "war on drugs" and every other "war on..." that we have been loosing since the 1960s. Get over it already.
    Step 4) Stop prosecuting and start taxing vices and victimless crimes.

    I currently work as a defense contractor, and I know first that the government is incompetent and defense spending is largely wasteful.