Future Implications? Oregon launches program to tax drivers by the mile

[cinco]

Couple of thoughts crossed my mind when reading this story.

Just another symptom of our financial sickness were taxation will continue to increase in an attempt to fix a fatal prognosis.

Another backdoor method to track all movement - in addition, to the cell phone tracking which already occurs.

How the heck would they enforce inter-state travel? Force you to install a tracking device or reject you access? Where do you "check in" upon entering a State? Border Patrol style check points? Since it would involve two (or more) States you know .fed will be all over that.

Any guys out that way with more information?

Oregon launches program to tax drivers by the mile

http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2015...ivers-by-mile/

Oregon’s Department of Transportation has been working on it for 15 years as a way to eventually replace the gas tax, which has been flat due to an influx of high mileage vehicles and people driving less.

Right now the program is voluntary and being capped at 5,000 participants, but an ODOT official told Fox News the ultimate goal is to make it mandatory and change the way states pay for roads -- forever.

"We're trying to make up for a growing deficit, really, because inflation's eating away at our ability to buy asphalt and rebar and the things we need to maintain the roads," said Tom Fuller of the Oregon Department of Transportation.

According to a national usage fee alliance, 28 states are in various stages of following down the same road. However, there are also privacy concerns. Two of the three OReGO systems track and store a car’s every move.

"To put a GPS monitor in everybody's car, the government already knows too much about us as it is," Jeff Kruse, a Republican lawmaker told Fox News.

Others are raising questions about the cost. Getting the gas tax is cheap, but OReGO vendors will eat up 40 cents of every dollar collected, and for those not used to paying any gas tax, it could be a whole new sticker shock – every month.

[uffdaphil]

GPS is getting so cheap that I can see them requiring it as OEM universally. When you take a road trip every state on your route will get a taste.

One of these days we are going to have RFID sensors in speed limit signs that your car's computer will read and relay to big brother for automatic fine billing.

[Averageman]

I thought your tax on fuel already did that?

[cinco]

GPS is getting so cheap that I can see them requiring it as OEM universally. When you take a road trip every state on your route will get a taste.

One of these days we are going to have RFID sensors in speed limit signs that your car's computer will read and relay to big brother for automatic fine billing.

Damn, you are right. I forgot about that being discussed in the past. Did a quick search and found the following:

http://fuelzee.com/a-gps-tracker-in-...-new-vehicles/

A trackable GPS “safety” device may soon be required in new vehicles, according to federal officials. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration is debating installing vehicle-to-vehicle communication devices (V2V), which allow cars to talk to one another through GPS data.

Politicians would like to track American vehicles for a number of reasons, and the rationale that GPS trackers “will prevent accidents” is viewed by some opposers as convenient excuse. With GPS tracking installed, politicians could accomplish taxing drivers for every mile driven. Lawmakers could also use this sort of technology to pass laws allowing local governments to mail tickets to drivers for “recorded traffic violations” as they do now with red light cameras.

[PatrioticDisorder]

GPS is getting so cheap that I can see them requiring it as OEM universally. When you take a road trip every state on your route will get a taste.

One of these days we are going to have RFID sensors in speed limit signs that your car's computer will read and relay to big brother for automatic fine billing.

And soon after that we will be banned from driving, only self driving cars allowed on the highways and the gunerment will have "fees" and "taxes" to make up any lost revenue from the automatic fine billing.

[HD1911]

Just wait for the Humans Consuming Oxygen Tax Act...

[SilverBullet432]

Ever heard of ITFA? (Applies only for out of state fuel)

[SilverBullet432]

This is major league BS i bet those politicians dont think about how it will affect them..... Oh wait! We pay for their shit too!!!

[cinco]

This is major league BS i bet those politicians dont think about how it will affect them..... Oh wait! We pay for their shit too!!!

They'll just fly everywhere - again, on our dime.

[cinco]

I thought your tax on fuel already did that?

It does, but the do-good progressives want everyone to pay "their fair share". Just like the Prius owner in the original link...

David Hastings is a rare American. This long-time hybrid car owner from Oregon wants to pay higher taxes for roads and bridges and says the current 30 cents per gallon state gas tax barely affects him.

"I've been free-loading on the highways for 20 years driving electric cars or hybrid cars, getting at least 40 miles to the gallon. So I haven't been paying my share," Hastings said.

ETA - I bet the existing fuel tax would stay and the per mile tax would be in addition.