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By-the-mile road tax could replace by-the-gallon federal fue

The Kansas City Star -- The year is 2020 and the gasoline tax is history. In its place you get a monthly tax bill based on each mile you drove — tracked by a Global Positioning System device in your car and uploaded to a billing center.

What once was science fiction is being field-tested by the University of Iowa to iron out the wrinkles should a by-the-mile road tax ever be enacted.

Besides the technological advances making such a tax possible, the idea is getting a hard push from a growing number of transportation experts and officials. That is because the traditional by-the-gallon fuel tax, struggling to keep up with road building and maintenance demands, could fall even farther behind as vehicles’ gas mileage rises and more alternative-fuel vehicles come on line.


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Submitted Jul 02, 2009 By: mapcat
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REPLIES (newest first)
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Hambone61
Champion Author Oregon

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Message Posted: Jul 4, 2009 9:20:01 PM

jsmithpdx111:

I am aware there are many who like government control over every aspect of our lives.... trouble is..... I don't know why!

Sad, ain't it?
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jsmithpdx111
Rookie Author Oregon

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Message Posted: Jul 4, 2009 8:33:40 PM

We Oregonians don't all think like Hambone61.
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jjjleblanc
Champion Author Rochester

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Message Posted: Jul 4, 2009 2:51:22 PM

Penalizes people who have to drive alot and may have purchased a fuel efficient vehicle.
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Blue48
Champion Author Illinois

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Message Posted: Jul 3, 2009 9:33:30 PM

THIS STINKS FOR SO MANY REASONS!!
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FordF2502001
Champion Author Mississippi

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Message Posted: Jul 3, 2009 8:02:15 PM

awesome idea, would definitely cut down on miles driven in my house
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geminijax
Champion Author Jacksonville

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Message Posted: Jul 3, 2009 5:04:04 PM

Hambone61, I love your "lie tax" idea. All those politicians should be required to carry a screen with them at all times that shows how much "lie tax" they own.

As several folks have said, this is indeed an attempt to violate our privacy, one more step on the way to a police state.
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Hambone61
Champion Author Oregon

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Message Posted: Jul 3, 2009 1:32:20 PM

This could be a great idea only lets use it to track our Congressmen/women and Senators. We could post their locations on the Internet and this way we will know if they are doing hanky panky or in their office where they belong.

And speaking of taxes.... let's put a tax on lies, this should reap enough to pay off the national debt in no time. We will tax all bureaucrats including the POTUS and first lady. WOW.... what a concept! Installed on each will be a counter registering every type of lie from little white ones to great big whoppers, of course, the whoppers will have a much higher tax. The money could easily be removed from their wages each month, if they are like many I know, they may have to pay when tallied instead of getting a paycheck.

Do you think this may change things a little? Don't you agree this may be the type of "change we can believe in"?
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rightsurrey
Champion Author Vancouver

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Message Posted: Jul 3, 2009 12:08:41 PM

Yes but it isn't 2020 yet. In the meantime raise gas taxes to encourage economy and make up for the shortfall in revenue caused by more fuel efficient vehicles.
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clement007
Champion Author Cleveland

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Message Posted: Jul 3, 2009 10:19:48 AM

Where is this in our constitution? THIS IS WRONG!
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thwadi
Champion Author Cleveland

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Message Posted: Jul 3, 2009 8:06:19 AM

60% of what I earn is taxed already. This is more BS.
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LetemEatCake
Champion Author Oklahoma City

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Message Posted: Jul 3, 2009 7:19:17 AM


If we MUST tax, then if we want to get rid of the Gas Guzzlers, reduce wear & tear on our roads....Tax based upon vehicle WEIGHT. Not a new idea!
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kelsielee
Champion Author Atlanta

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Message Posted: Jul 3, 2009 7:10:19 AM

Somehow we have to find a way to pay for road building and maintenance. If not and roads deteriorate, then everyone will complsin about the quality of the roads.
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largobob
Champion Author Tampa

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Message Posted: Jul 3, 2009 6:48:29 AM

This would only encourage higher consumption...this is garbage.
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BH24
Champion Author Arkansas

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Message Posted: Jul 3, 2009 5:31:15 AM

George Orwell must be feeling vindicated based on the climate of things that are unfolding these days.
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Hunter724
Champion Author New Hampshire

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Message Posted: Jul 3, 2009 5:04:14 AM

Very interesting..............
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RocketGeek
Champion Author Grand Rapids

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Message Posted: Jul 3, 2009 4:53:15 AM

Sounds like a way to limit America's mobility and freedom.
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jjjleblanc
Champion Author Rochester

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Message Posted: Jul 3, 2009 4:25:38 AM

What's wrong with the consumption model? This seems to penalize people who have purchased more efficient vehicles because they do drive alot.
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GasholeMI
Champion Author Lansing

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Message Posted: Jul 3, 2009 4:04:06 AM

Don't we have a by the mile road tax now? The more miles I drive, the more gallons I need and the more tax I pay. This by the mile scheme is simply another way to raise taxes higher.
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stpetebp
Champion Author Tampa

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Message Posted: Jul 3, 2009 4:00:43 AM

BS!!
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run101
Champion Author San Jose

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Message Posted: Jul 3, 2009 3:58:31 AM

What a stupid idea!

You can park your hybrid car at home and provide hybrid car battery power to the house electricity. It is fuel tax free!

It is also fuel tax free for portable electric generator running on gas or diesel.

What about people unplug the big brother GPS power or shield the GPS antenna to save some by-the-mile tax?
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oilrobber
Champion Author Miami

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Message Posted: Jul 3, 2009 3:58:05 AM

Nothing in the United States makes sense anymore. What the HELL ever happened to common sense. Here in Florida we spend hundreds of millions for landscape on Florida roads. Who cares if you have cluster of Palm trees and other crap. Why design a car to get better mileage, that will be meaningless. I say less government, less government programs. Then you will see how much money would be saved.
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BigDogOH
Champion Author Cincinnati

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Message Posted: Jul 3, 2009 3:57:41 AM

So I pay as much with my SUV as The Preous people do
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mdegug
Champion Author Rochester

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Message Posted: Jul 3, 2009 3:57:07 AM

old news
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Ratso
Champion Author Ohio

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Message Posted: Jul 3, 2009 3:48:50 AM

What a way to rip the heart out of vacations....this administration has got to go !
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BM4225
Champion Author Atlanta

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Message Posted: Jul 3, 2009 3:44:33 AM

This would mean those that chose to get MPG vehicles would pay the same tax as those that wish to get 100 MPG. So why bother with the better MPG vehicle? Tax by consumption, and since we are using less, then increase the tax to replace lost revenue.
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BoerneWatch
Champion Author San Antonio

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Message Posted: Jul 3, 2009 3:41:13 AM

Life was just too simple.

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Petrock
Champion Author Lexington

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Message Posted: Jul 3, 2009 3:39:23 AM

I would be pretty strongly opposed to this idea. It is a disincentive to fuel economy and also a personal intrusion. As cars get smaller and more efficient, well constructed roads should require less maintanence. If they need more money for roads there must be a better way to pay. How about road tolls?
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cheapertvs
Champion Author Richmond

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Message Posted: Jul 3, 2009 3:34:07 AM

This tax would be counter productive and would discourage buying the smaller fuel efficient cars.
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matifu
Veteran Author Florida

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Message Posted: Jul 3, 2009 3:33:34 AM

And then finally our lovely government will know about our whereabouts all the time. Will be a lot more easier to control us.
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theawesome1
Champion Author Cleveland

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Message Posted: Jul 3, 2009 3:33:21 AM

Well we may be taxed, but a GPS which is history next year, will not be working so good luck.........
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SpruceGuse2
Champion Author Michigan

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Message Posted: Jul 3, 2009 3:33:11 AM

The price of driving will only increase and we will continue to accept it.
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jimmy123NE
Champion Author Omaha

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Message Posted: Jul 3, 2009 3:28:24 AM

I hope this will never happen. It is bad the way it is. This will only complicate things!
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OilerFan
Champion Author Tulsa

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Message Posted: Jul 3, 2009 3:27:47 AM

Facist state grows stronger.
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Metroman
Champion Author Philadelphia

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Message Posted: Jul 3, 2009 3:26:57 AM

Oh that's great?! I guess there will be more old cars on the road that don't have GPS systems.
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kolache101
Champion Author Spartanburg

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Message Posted: Jul 3, 2009 3:24:42 AM

I drive a Prius - 46.5 mpg. The gas tax gives me an advantage over the gas hog. The BTM tax would penalize a car that gets good mileage! This is probably the most stupid way to tax - it would stop conservation of energy!

Only Congress could find an advantage in that........... It sounds like an idea that only a 'Barney Frank' democrat would conceive! There cannot be that many ignorant people in government..I hope!

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sherlockMS
Champion Author Mississippi

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Message Posted: Jul 3, 2009 3:24:26 AM

by the mile tax will kill the economy
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harleydoctor
Champion Author Kansas

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Message Posted: Jul 3, 2009 3:20:28 AM

Sounds to me like its about time to get out the tube of KY jelly......
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Gas Slave
Champion Author Cincinnati

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Message Posted: Jul 3, 2009 3:17:31 AM

"Also, how about a 'legislator tax', drop their salaries down to under $100k a year and use the savings there for road taxes." I like it, but let's take it a step further, $25,000 and you work for the people. That way, they would be less likely to be a lifer like too many of them are today, and we would greatly limit the crap legislation that the House passed last Friday.
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JadeKY
Champion Author Louisville

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Message Posted: Jul 3, 2009 3:17:03 AM

I'll go to riding a bicycle if that happens, too much 1984 in that Ideal.
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cnw 1690
Champion Author South Dakota

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Message Posted: Jul 3, 2009 3:11:51 AM

How about using the fuel tax ONLY on road upkeep, instead of using it to subsidize everything under the sun. Also, how about a 'legislator tax', drop their salaries down to under $100k a year and use the savings there for road taxes.

These idiots in Washington are supposed to be serving their country, not raping it over a pork barrel.
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mazdaboy
Champion Author Portland

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Message Posted: Jul 3, 2009 3:08:44 AM

So what happens when we have transporters that beam us from one place to another. How will we tax that?
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leeso1
Champion Author San Diego

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Message Posted: Jul 3, 2009 3:08:28 AM

fiction?
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goldseeker
Champion Author West Virginia

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Message Posted: Jul 3, 2009 3:05:36 AM

Heaven forbid.
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Harvolis
Champion Author Montana

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Message Posted: Jul 3, 2009 3:04:45 AM

Let your friends drive your car and send them the bill!!!
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Mark929
Champion Author Oakland

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Message Posted: Jul 3, 2009 2:59:52 AM

I don't support this scenario.
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UTOrangeMan
Champion Author Atlanta

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Message Posted: Jul 3, 2009 2:49:49 AM

Communism plain and simple.
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Kamakani
Champion Author Hawaii

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Message Posted: Jul 3, 2009 2:49:47 AM

Those who are trying to conserve would be punished. They would be taxing the EVs and for what? That sucks.
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garthfanok1
Veteran Author Indiana

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Message Posted: Jul 3, 2009 2:47:40 AM

find that wire and clip it!!
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Number43
Champion Author Lexington

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Message Posted: Jul 3, 2009 2:46:57 AM

Not only will they use it for taxes but they would be able to watch every move we make- there will be no privacy.
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mandoid
Champion Author Colorado Springs

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Message Posted: Jul 3, 2009 2:44:21 AM

this is a power grab that this administration relishes in, states also. anything to tax us to death.
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