DOT Studies Pay-Per-Mile

[cybereye]

I did not want to highjack from another thread that was talking about pay per mile.
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/42919365/ns ... cy-threat/

In the US, The DOT are studies Pay-Per-Mile idea as well.
I do have a mix point of view. If they get rid of the gas tax and created a pay per mile. I hope they will add a the weight/mile twist seems to take all main contributing factors into account.They need to use "pound-miles". Heavier vehicles use more gas and of course, damage roads more. They need to tax on a pound-mile rather than just mile. Also, driving during winter can be costlier due to surface clearning and salt damage. So, a new unit of "weather-pound-miles" travelled would not only track the vehicle weight but also weight impacts during inclement weather. Studded snow tires, worse damage, so take that into account too. I suppose you could leave it to the taxpayer to indicate percentages traveled in each state. Even though it would be imperfect, I hate the idea of GPS tracking our every move (even though cell phones and laptops apparently already do that quite well). I am already frisked and x-rayed at the airport like a prisoner moving between cell block in a prison, I don't need or want a tracking collar on top of that. It a matter of time that cars may runs on with a mix of electric, gas, CNG, hydrogen (?) propelling our vehicles in the years to come, miles traveled seems the only equitable way to do it. If the dot going to do by pay per mile then I know I would be looking for ways to reduce my mileage the same as I do to reduce gas MPG.

 

[faethor]

So, a new unit of "weather-pound-miles" travelled would not only track the vehicle weight but also weight impacts during inclement weather

I think they could do without weather. If a state has higher costs due to weather the cost per mile would be adjusted accordingly. Those cold weather states would have a higher cost per mile tax than the lower cost states.

 

[cecilia]

if you want to know the miles on a car you just check the speedometer. Every car has to get inspected to get it's "Inspection Sticker" that's when you write down the number on the speedometer. at least that's the cheap way to do it :mrgreen:

 

[cybereye]

if you want to know the miles on a car you just check the speedometer. Every car has to get inspected to get it's "Inspection Sticker" that's when you write down the number on the speedometer. at least that's the cheap way to do it :mrgreen:

I agree with that, but the DOT is thinking of tracking by device. It could be a toll booth and I am not crazy about the toll booth.

 

[faethor]

if you want to know the miles on a car you just check the speedometer. Every car has to get inspected to get it's "Inspection Sticker" that's when you write down the number on the speedometer. at least that's the cheap way to do it :mrgreen:

Not all states have inspections. In Minnesota we had some for a short time and haven't now for years.

 

[redrumloa]

Not all states have inspections. In Minnesota we had some for a short time and haven't now for years.

Florida dropped inspections a good ~15 years ago. When there were inspections, it only lasted ~4 years.

 

[ilwrath]

Yeah, Michigan hasn't had vehicle inspections in a long time, either. I remember we had smog tests and junk when I was a kid, but I don't think we've done that in the past 20 years. (I know I've never taken a car I've owned in for inspection. We may have had inspections for a few years when I first started driving, and my first car was old enough to be exempt. I honestly don't remember. I just know I never had to get one tested.)

And odometers are really way too simple to temporarily enable/disable to be of any use to auditing mileage driven. There will be a cottage industry rush on local mechanics who are willing to install the small switch hidden under the dashboard for a few bucks. You'd be better off just asking and hoping with an honor system. And both of those are likely to be worse than just plowing ahead with the flat gas tax during times like this when most families are already getting squeezed this badly.

I really hate the privacy implications of GPS tracking every vehicle. (Also, likely easy to disable. Though you could probably ID the GPS and toss it in a database, tied to the license plate, and let police be able to run/check if you've done that. Another tidy revenue stream for law enforcement that doesn't make anyone any safer, but perhaps that's a different rant.)

And toll booths are annoying, back up traffic, and cost real money to install and maintain. I just don't see how pay-per-mile can work without a massive step forward for big brother. And I think we can all agree that is the LAST thing we want.

 

[cybereye]

odometers are really way too simple to temporarily enable/disable to be of any use to auditing mileage driven. There will be a cottage industry rush on local mechanics who are willing to install the small switch hidden under the dashboard for a few bucks..

Anything can be hack regard what system being use. Whatever DOT system is using someone will be trying to find a way to get around.

You'd be better off just asking and hoping with an honor system. And both of those are likely to be worse than just plowing ahead with the flat gas tax during times like this when most families are already getting squeezed this badly.

Any form of gas tax are pretty much not able to keep the road update as I had posted from this thread.

It a matter of time that cars may runs on with a mix of electric, gas, CNG, hydrogen (?) propelling our vehicles in the years to come,.

I can’t disagree with you anymore. My view of the DOT study is to find the lease resistance from drivers about the pay the road fee system and what the maximum value that drivers can deal with.

 

[cecilia]

if you want to know the miles on a car you just check the speedometer. Every car has to get inspected to get it's "Inspection Sticker" that's when you write down the number on the speedometer. at least that's the cheap way to do it :mrgreen:

Not all states have inspections. In Minnesota we had some for a short time and haven't now for years.

wow! shocking!