California Considers Placing A Mileage Tax On Drivers

[Cow Poke]

California Considers Placing A Mileage Tax On Drivers

Wow, what can they tax next?

Part of this argument is that electric vehicles don't pay gas taxes, so they have to find a way to collect from them, too.

SAN FRANCISCO (KPIX 5) — California is moving closer to charging drivers for every mile they drive.

The state says it needs more money for road repairs, and the gas tax just isn’t bringing in enough revenue.

The state recently road-tested a mileage monitoring plan.

The California Road Charge Pilot Program is billed as a way for the state to move from its longstanding pump tax to a system where drivers pay based on their mileage.

But it’s not just a question about money, it’s also a question about fairness.

State Senator Scott Wiener and others are saying that when it comes to road taxes, it’s time to start looking at charging you by the mile rather than by the gallon.

“If you own an older vehicle that is fueled by gas, you’re paying gas tax to maintain the roads. Someone who has an electric vehicle or a dramatically more fuel efficient vehicle is paying much less than you are. But they are still using the roads,” Wiener said.

“People are going to use less and less gas in the long run,” according to Wiener.

And less gas means less gas tax, and less money for road repair.

“We want to make sure that all cars are paying to maintain the roads,” Wiener said.

Could well be that more of those people are going to use their miles to drive to Texas or other states that aren't so taxspensive.

[Sparko]

We need to instigate Road Neutrality laws! Otherwise the government will charge extra for the fast lanes and limit the speed on the slower lanes causing more traffic to build up!

[Cow Poke]

We need to instigate Road Neutrality laws! Otherwise the government will charge extra for the fast lanes and limit the speed on the slower lanes causing more traffic to build up!

Houston actually has some toll lanes that vary in cost relative to demand. I don't mind that so much, because it basically comes back to supply and demand. And, in those areas where the variable toll is in effect, you can choose NOT to enter those lanes, and stay on the more congested highway. Strictly left up to the driver.

[RumTumTugger]

California Considers Placing A Mileage Tax On Drivers

Wow, what can they tax next?

Part of this argument is that electric vehicles don't pay gas taxes, so they have to find a way to collect from them, too.

SAN FRANCISCO (KPIX 5) — California is moving closer to charging drivers for every mile they drive.

The state says it needs more money for road repairs, and the gas tax just isn’t bringing in enough revenue.

The state recently road-tested a mileage monitoring plan.

The California Road Charge Pilot Program is billed as a way for the state to move from its longstanding pump tax to a system where drivers pay based on their mileage.

But it’s not just a question about money, it’s also a question about fairness.

State Senator Scott Wiener and others are saying that when it comes to road taxes, it’s time to start looking at charging you by the mile rather than by the gallon.

“If you own an older vehicle that is fueled by gas, you’re paying gas tax to maintain the roads. Someone who has an electric vehicle or a dramatically more fuel efficient vehicle is paying much less than you are. But they are still using the roads,” Wiener said.

“People are going to use less and less gas in the long run,” according to Wiener.

And less gas means less gas tax, and less money for road repair.

“We want to make sure that all cars are paying to maintain the roads,” Wiener said.

Could well be that more of those people are going to use their miles to drive to Texas or other states that aren't so taxspensive.

if they would stop using the tax money they ge from gas for other things they'd have enough but they keep putting ht gas taxes in with the general I hate living in california our leftist over seers are stupid.

[Sparko]

Houston actually has some toll lanes that vary in cost relative to demand. I don't mind that so much, because it basically comes back to supply and demand. And, in those areas where the variable toll is in effect, you can choose NOT to enter those lanes, and stay on the more congested highway. Strictly left up to the driver.

California will say we don't force people to pay per mile, we have free roads for those who don't want to pay:

warburtc.jpg

[Sparko]

besides, California should have plenty of money since they legalized marijuana. They also have Hollywood. and Silicon Valley.

heck Tennessee doesn't even have a state income tax at all because of Nashville's music industry. California should be rolling in the dough just from Hollywood

[Raphael]

We have Road User Charges here for diesel vehicles and I'm fairly sure they will roll them out to electric vehicles once they become common enough.

Diesel doesn't have the taxes on it that petrol has. This is so that fuel costs for tractors (and other vehicles that typically won't use the roads) have their costs lowered as they aren't paying for road maintenance.

https://www.nzta.govt.nz/vehicles/li...-user-charges/

It makes sense for it to be extended to electric vehicles (once enough of them are on the road) as they will need to pay their share of the cost for road building and maintenance.

[Cow Poke]

We have Road User Charges here for diesel vehicles and I'm fairly sure they will roll them out to electric vehicles once they become common enough.

Diesel doesn't have the taxes on it that petrol has. This is so that fuel costs for tractors (and other vehicles that typically won't use the roads) have their costs lowered as they aren't paying for road maintenance.

https://www.nzta.govt.nz/vehicles/li...-user-charges/

It makes sense for it to be extended to electric vehicles (once enough of them are on the road) as they will need to pay their share of the cost for road building and maintenance.

I think, in the US, this would disproportionately affect the poor. In my experience, the poor have the least maintained and fuel efficient vehicles, so a "per mile" tax would hit their wallets the hardest.

[Raphael]

I think, in the US, this would disproportionately affect the poor. In my experience, the poor have the least maintained and fuel efficient vehicles, so a "per mile" tax would hit their wallets the hardest.

Surely its the opposite. A RUC would impact a gas guzzler less than the tax being on fuel (as the gas guzzler uses more litres per km while the RUC is a fixed per km charge).

[Cow Poke]

Surely its the opposite. A RUC would impact a gas guzzler less than the tax being on fuel (as the gas guzzler uses more litres per km while the RUC is a fixed per km charge).

But somebody who can afford the big gas guzzler probably has the finances to pay the taxes, as opposed to the poor guy who drives the old clunker. That's why I emphasized "the wallet". But I see what you're saying -- the "poor guy" is already paying the taxes on fuel...... It all depends, of course, on what the tax per mile would be.

[Cerebrum123]

They will probably start taxing breathing.

[rogue06]

They will probably start taxing breathing.

I can't remember where I saw/read a story about a futuristic society that taxed vision giving a break to those who lost an eye leading to many folks putting out one of their eyes in order to at least partially escape the odious tax.

[TheWall]

They will probably start taxing breathing.

Mr Krabs is in charge of taxes! That explains so much.

[Jedidiah]

The California Road Charge Pilot Program is billed as a way for the state to move from its longstanding pump tax to a system where drivers pay based on their mileage.

Anyone believe that this will be a "move from its longstanding pump tax" rather than an additional tax. I expect the pump tax system will remain in place with a new mileage tax added.

[One Bad Pig]

Houston actually has some toll lanes that vary in cost relative to demand. I don't mind that so much, because it basically comes back to supply and demand. And, in those areas where the variable toll is in effect, you can choose NOT to enter those lanes, and stay on the more congested highway. Strictly left up to the driver.

Yeah, DC has started doing that. The toll lanes they just installed on I-66 can get above $30/trip!