Transportation chief eyes taxing miles driven

[SuaveX5]

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/29298315 < --- full story

WASHINGTON - Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood says he wants to consider taxing motorists based on how many miles they drive rather than how much gasoline they burn — an idea that has angered drivers in some states where it has been proposed.

A tentative plan in Massachusetts to use GPS chips in vehicles to charge motorists by the mile has drawn complaints from drivers who say it's an Orwellian intrusion by government into the lives of citizens. Other motorists say it eliminates an incentive to drive more fuel-efficient cars since gas guzzlers will be taxed at the same rate as fuel sippers.

[B-Line]

It's also a rural tax. Cause I can spend all day in my car and only drive 20 miles in Los Angeles..

[Major04]

So, are they going to tax the truckers that keeps this country alive too? Or is it just cars? And what happens if you just park your car and walk to work? Will the cops give you tickets for an "abandon" vehicle and tow your car?

For california and florida residents will this be unfair because you have to drive to go anywhere? So, if you move to another state...will you have to pay taxes because you moved too far from where your home residence should be? As we know it, the government take way too long to update their record and who is going to pay for this GPS chips? O right - the taxpayers...it seems like we are getting TAXED left and right. Hell - they already take over 30% of my income... WTF...I might as well not work...maybe I can get some "bailout money" too...

[cmyX6go]

Originally Posted by Major04

So, are they going to tax the truckers that keeps this country alive too? ...

They already do on the state level, it's called truck mileage tax. It's offset if you purchase fuel within the state you traveled.

[Meiac09]

I'm pretty sure they check our mileage when we register, inspect our car, etc. WHY THE HELL do they feel the need to put in a GPS.

Taxachusetts is truly another planet. They're just pissed everyone there tries to register their car in New Hampshire so they pay less taxes on them. Actually, they're just using this to track all the people who go to NH to buy everything at half the cost... Liquor, Cigarettes, Expensive stuff, EVERYTHING.

Looks like the plan got the axe.

[X5rolls]

Flub back and forth with Transportation Secretary and the Whitehouse - it's been pulled as something they are pursuing. Talk about a nightmare situation - tracking everyone via GPS by the federal gov't?

The problem long term (20-50-75 years) is the dwindling revenues from gas tax as petro is phased out because of decreasing supply and changes to alternative fuels. The Federal Gov't tracking via GPS on gas cars is really really stupid.

The short term answer is there are hundreds of ways the Federal Gov't can find ways to tax, they will come up with other hair brained ideas too.

[Dannyell]

Originally Posted by cmyX5go

They already do on the state level, it's called truck mileage tax. It's offset if you purchase fuel within the state you traveled.

[Bimmer4125]

Repeat after me........."BIG BROTHER". A GPS utilized to calculate a road use tax? That could go wrong so many ways it scares the absolute crap out of me.

[B-Line]

There is no reason why they would need to add a GPS to do this.. They could easily make it happened based on the odometer in the car.

[Dannyell]

i doubt something like this would ever pass...its a double kick in the nuts...not only u waste time and $$ driving to work and w/e but now our gov wants to tax that?? BS