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Levy on Driving Gains Speed as Gas-Tax Replacement

By Harry Kimball,  Newser Staff

Posted Jul 1, 2009 3:00 PM CDT

(Newser) – As the US moves away from a gasoline-only auto culture, researchers and the government are investigating alternative taxes to fund road-building and maintenance, the Kansas City Star reports. The leading idea to supplant the gas tax is a by-the-mile approach endorsed by a federal commission. “If you’re committed to the system being improved then it was a no-brainer,” the chairman said.

The commission prefers a high-tech approach utilizing GPS trackers in cars to report mileage back to a central database, which would then prepare a monthly bill. With gas mileage improving and all-electric cars on the horizon, the commission wants the system in place by 2020. “The Chevrolet Volt won’t pay a penny of fuel tax,” a transportation official noted.

Graphic shows total state-by-state gas taxes per gallon.
Graphic shows total state-by-state gas taxes per gallon.   (AP Photo)
A customer pumps gas.
A customer pumps gas.   (AP Photo)
An electric car and its charger.
An electric car and its charger.   (AP Photo)
A Chevy Volt.
A Chevy Volt.   (AP Photo)
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COMMENTS
Showing 3 of 24 comments
BlahBlahBlah
Jul 2, 2009 3:51 AM CDT
Control much!!! Last time I checked this is not some dictatiorship. Or is it????
Newser001
Jul 2, 2009 3:05 AM CDT
Just so everyone is on the same page - The vast majority of fleet big-rigs use GPS tracking and gateway systems to bypass truck weight stations, inspections, auto-routed around traffic congestion, alerted to new pick-ups, on-time calculations, safety adherence, etc. On the consumer end, if you have OnStar, Lo-Jack, FastPass, FastTrack and/or other competitors technologies, they're providing 24 hr GPS and/or mobile tracking. Your mobile phone is very easily trackable through triangulation and tower hoops. Its here, its now and you're using it wether you know it, like it, or not.
John
Jul 2, 2009 2:45 AM CDT
Don't drive on the roads or cross bridges since you are unwilling to pay for them!!

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