Oregon lawmakers considering per-mile tax for some drivers (no gas purchased = no loot collected)

KPTV ^ | 1/04/13

[Libloather]

PORTLAND, OR (KPTV) - Fuel-efficient cars are designed to save people money on gas, but those who drive them could soon start paying a mileage tax.

The government has been collecting taxes at the pump to pay for building and fixing roads for years, but drivers of electric cars avoid the gas tax because they don't fuel up.

State legislators are looking at adding a tax for cars that get at least 55 miles per gallon, with the money going toward state roads. Some Portland residents say area roads could use the help.

[Libloather]

Do clown cars really weigh that much? Maybe charge by the pound.

[BenLurkin]

State legislators are looking at adding a tax for cars that get at least 55 miles per gallon

Doesn't that interfere with their "green" social engineering?

[Tublecane]

How do they know how far you’ve gone? Are we talking more toll booths or tracking devices? If I know government, they’re working on the latter.

[madison10]

GAH! When are these people going to stop?! We are getting bad ideas from the Leftist control freaks at the rate of about ten per hour.

[ABQHispConservative]

I’m sure the loons in Portland and Eugene will be more than happy to pay. That’s what all the libs and rinos advocate for after all.

[morphing libertarian]

We are now dealing with addict behavior

Doesn’t matter consequences or hypocracy just more and more tax revenue to feed their addiction

[sickoflibs]

I love that idea, we should raise taxes on all green products like solar panels too

Here in Maryland if you put solar panels on your house the taxpayers pay for half of them, and the other consumers of electric who don’t have them pay for the electric you need that the panels dont produce like at night by mandate.

[FoxInSocks]

And once that’s in place, they’ll simply add a five-word clause and amend the statute to include gasoline-powered vehicles.

[wrench]

The devices are available off the shelf today. Made right here in Georgia, USA.

Huge lobbying effort by the company for this very thing. They are already OEM black box and gps suppliers for several European car makers. Europe hasn’t started the per mile tax thing.......yet.

[OldPossum]

Here in Maryland...

My deepest sympathies.

[vpintheak]

Going to start a new black market I see. These rats are sure smart!

[llevrok]

Wash state just added a $100 annual tax on non-gasoline cars (seeing as they pay no tax at he gas pump).

So they tell us to drive less or more efficiently and we do. Now they complain about lower tax revs???

What next? Telling us to smoke again because they are collecting lower tobacco tax revs?

Genius. Pure genius.

[Tublecane]

Devices may be available, but when I say working on it I more mean getting around the Fourth amendment. Or does that one count anymore?

By the way, I assume even if the devices are installed at the factory it’ll be too easy for drivers to interfere with them. Traffic cameras don’t seem up to the job. I imagine roaming robot spy planes.

[Brad from Tennessee]

From OREGONLIVE.COM:

[Less than 1,000 of Oregon's 3.2 million passenger vehicles are currently plug-in hybrid or electric. By 2021, however, the number is expected to spike to 75,000, said Whitty.]

http://www.oregonlive.com/politics/index.ssf/2011/04/oregons_electric_car_owners_sh.html

[palmer]

It is truly stupid. My power company can buy clean and reliable power anytime they need to for about 4 cents per kWh. Buying solar from a homeowner costs them retail price, about 12 cents, it’s unreliable and not available when it is actually needed (evening hours).

[sickoflibs]

RE :”Here in Maryland...
....
My deepest sympathies.”

My experiences here turned me against uncontrolled Housing development,

Howard county SW of Balt used to be white and very conservative Republican as late as say ~2000. The ever increasing gov spending around DC with unrestrained housing development and massive immigration Balkan-nized the county and turned it solid Dem, taxes and regulations followed. And ironically wiping out millions of trees in the process they traded that for enslaving us in environmental regulations and taxes.
Now it is hopeless.

And you obviously know some about what happened at the state level.

[Nuc 1.1]

Find out where the existing gas tax money is being spent and you'll know why your roads need repair. I would be surprised if state representatives are not stealing road tax money to use for more important projects, like buying votes. Cars and trucks are evil don't you know.

[Zhang Fei]

A mileage tax is a great idea, as long as they eliminate the gasoline tax.

[ProtectOurFreedom]

So they tell us to drive less or more efficiently and we do. Now they complain about lower tax revs???

When our own started "free" recycling, the amount of revenue the trash company collected dropped a huge amount. People recycled everything they could. Didn't take long before rates for the now-puny garbage cans shot up to compensate.

Government is chock-full of marketing geniuses who know all about human behavior and incentives.

[BitWielder1]

What's the point of having fuel efficient car if you have to pay per mile? Might as well stick with the Hummer then.
What's next, paying the utility the going tax rate for juice from your solar panels or the water from your own well?
They would do that. Anything that moves, tax it.