AP Interview: Transportation Secretary Says Taxing How Much We Drive May Replace Gasoline Tax, page 1

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Topic started on 20-2-2009 @ 08:09 AM by MOFreemason

Sounds like another European idea being embraced and pushed here in the States.

And, yet another way to tax the heck out of all of us!!!

WASHINGTON (AP) — 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.

The system would require all cars and trucks be equipped with global satellite positioning technology, a transponder, a clock and other equipment to record how many miles a vehicle was driven, whether it was driven on highways or secondary roads, and even whether it was driven during peak traffic periods or off-peak hours.

The device would tally how much tax motorists owed depending upon their road use. Motorists would pay the amount owed when it was downloaded, probably at gas stations at first, but an alternative eventually would be needed.
www.newsday.com...

reply posted on 20-2-2009 @ 08:15 AM by jjkenobi

Yeah um installing GPS on everyone's car has nothing to do with gas taxes. They are using that as an excuse to force even more big brother on everyone.

reply posted on 20-2-2009 @ 08:19 AM by jam321

GPS.....hmmm. Sounds kinda fishy to me. Why can't they just go by the odometer. Maybe instead of taxing every American this way, they should tax corporate America this way and include the miles they fly in their corporate jets.

reply posted on 20-2-2009 @ 08:40 AM by Grumble

It's revolution time.

reply posted on 20-2-2009 @ 09:10 AM by GhostR1der

Lol good try govt.. don't see even the sheeple falling for that one.. unless they change the laws to make using devices like this common place and easier to get around without a hassle. The slow sweet way - tech is everywhere.

Herd the sheep don't force them is how they operate so beware. This is just a first little drop.

reply posted on 20-2-2009 @ 09:29 AM by Open_Minded Skeptic

No. Freaking. Way.

This is a terrible idea. Is the tax rate to be the same for every vehicle? Which implies that a 650cc motorcycle has the same impact as an 18 wheeler. Which is clearly not the case.

So then we get into different tax rates... x per mile for motorcycles, y per mile for 18-wheelers, and the whole beaurocratic spiral begins again and more money will be wasted supporting the structure than it is worth.

Not to mention real-time tracking of individual travel in the US... uh-uh.

reply posted on 20-2-2009 @ 09:45 AM by Wertdagf

.... so people with powerfull engines have to pay less?

sounds like the rich getting richer.

reply posted on 20-2-2009 @ 02:30 PM by MOFreemason

reply to post by jam321

Of course the government says this GPS system wouldn't become a privacy concern.

Um, yeah...'cuz I believe you!

reply posted on 20-2-2009 @ 05:27 PM by sos37

Originally posted by jam321
GPS.....hmmm. Sounds kinda fishy to me. Why can't they just go by the odometer. Maybe instead of taxing every American this way, they should tax corporate America this way and include the miles they fly in their corporate jets.

That was my thought too. Just read the odometer after the state inspection and report the mileage to the state transportation authority when you send in the inspection data. Of course, I expect if this ridiculous idea ever passes into law that we will see videos on YouTube on how to disconnect the odometer for X brand, Y model of car.

reply posted on 20-2-2009 @ 05:30 PM by sos37

Actually, check the headline. It just changed about 10 minutes ago. Obama has decided that he will not back the mileage tax. Finally - a sensible move coming from this administration!

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