Posted on 07/03/2015 6:45:07 AM PDT by Enlightened1
Oregon launches program to tax drivers per mile Never autoplay videos
David Hastings is a rare American. This long-time hybrid car owner from Oregon wants to pay higher taxes for roads and bridges and says the current 30 cents per gallon state gas tax barely affects him.
"I've been free-loading on the highways for 20 years driving electric cars or hybrid cars, getting at least 40 miles to the gallon. So I haven't been paying my share," Hastings said.
Now, Hastings will pay more thanks to OReGO -- the first pay-by-the-mile program in the U.S.
Oregon’s Department of Transportation has been working on it for 15 years as a way to eventually replace the gas tax, which has been flat due to an influx of high mileage vehicles and people driving less.
Right now the program is voluntary and being capped at 5,000 participants, but an ODOT official told Fox News the ultimate goal is to make it mandatory and change the way states pay for roads -- forever.
"We're trying to make up for a growing deficit, really, because inflation's eating away at our ability to buy asphalt and rebar and the things we need to maintain the roads," said Tom Fuller of the Oregon Department of Transportation.
According to a national usage fee alliance, 28 states are in various stages of following down the same road. However, there are also privacy concerns. Two of the three OReGO systems track and store a car’s every move.
"To put a GPS monitor in everybody's car, the government already knows too much about us as it is," Jeff Kruse, a Republican lawmaker told Fox News.
(Excerpt) Read more at foxnews.com ...
Watch the video on this link,
http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2015/07/03/oregon-launches-program-to-tax-drivers-by-mile/
I knew this was coming. See it.nationwide in five years.
Millions in Oregon just called relatives in other states about using their address to register their cars..
They tell us to buy high MPG cars.. then tax the hell out of us..
They tell us to use less water.. Then raise water prices to make up for it.
They tell us to use less electricity then raise prices to make up for it..
I could go on..
wants to pay higher taxes for roads and bridges
This clown's true agenda is insidious -- and so he hides it behind a screen of dopey sounding malarkey.
Just my opinion.
I will not comply..
If I have to I’ll dust off the 56 chev sedan with a 6 volt electrical system. They will never be able to figure out how to connect their 12 volt gizmo to it.
To be fair, wear and tear on roads is much more closely related to miles driven than to gasoline used.
in a not as nice way of saying it..
He’s full of bull droppings.
maybe.. but a tracking device is a no go with me. They will use them to send you speeding tickets in the mail. its just a matter of time.
they tax the hell out of everything, cut the waste then ask me about needing more money.
In Minnesota our gas tax is used to pave walking paths, bike paths, bus only lanes and crap like that...
There is enough money if they use the road tax for roads.
Yep. There are a lot of Kansas residents who tag their vehicles in Oregon.
Boy am I simple, perhaps even stupid.
The government has been telling us for years that there is no inflation. One always believes the government.
Now this guy says that inflation is eating away at his ability to buy asphalt, rebar and the things we need to maintain the roads.
I am confused and disillusioned. (sarc)
I think Va taxes vehicles every year just like your house or boat.
I got a novel idea: Stop taking from the transportation fund to pay every tom dick and harry in the general fund. States have been robbing from the transportation fund for years to get their “pet projects” done. If they would stop, they might not ever need to tax by mile. But let’s see this is the same state that rose wages in Seattle to 15 bucks and hour. What was the result? I rest my case.
'In the end they will lay their freedom at our feet and say to us, Make us your slaves" --Dostoevsky, The Grand Inquisitor
They just won’t register your car. Remember they are evil.
Force this to a vote ...
Not sure what Oregon’s law on tax policy is, but I would be strongly working to force this to a vote!
I agree with the criticisms of gas tax money being used for mass transit.
However, the amounts used for bike paths and bus only lanes make some sense, as they reduce traffic for cars. Also, the cost of bike paths per mile is minimal compared to the cost of highways.
I’ve tried but been unable to find out how much money is actually diverted from highways to bike paths. Been unable to do so. Usually lumped in with mass transit and other types of diversions.
I suspect bike paths are at most 1%. But am interested in actual numbers.
California has been pushing for this since the days of Schwarzenegger. The pols want a high gas tax AND a pay-per-mile fee.
What I’m noticing lately is HOV lanes being converted to toll lanes one freeway at a time. I drive the 110 almost every day and notice those toll lanes are nearly empty - yet the media has called them a “great success” - with plans for expansion. The California FedGov wants us to pay (and pay and pay and pay) for the roads twice, three times, and more.
In a few years, all HOV lanes will be toll lanes - and then the entire freeway system will become toll roads.
It’s coming.
In California - our gas tax goes into the general fund - and is used for everything except roads.
And the greedy bastards keep asking for more more more more...
You, as an oldthinker, unbellyfeel AmSoc.
There is inflation. America has ALWAYS been at war with inflation.
So keep quiet, and enjoy your chocolate ration, which was just increased to 25g.
Hail Obama
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