] He also pays a lot less in gasoline taxes which fund
] highway projects and road repairs. As more and more
] hybrids hit the road, cash-strapped states are warning of
] rough roads ahead.
]
] Officials in car-clogged California are so worried they
] may be considering a replacement for the gas tax
] altogether, replacing it with something called "tax by
] the mile."
]
] Kim and his team at Oregon State University equipped a
] test car with a global positioning device to keep track
] of its mileage. Eventually, every car would need one.

Question: We're discouraging fuel efficiency. Why not just raise the damn gas tax?

Answer: Because this way we get to install tracking devices in every car!

You might win a debate with the cops about this but you'll never win a debate over tax revenue.

[ Yeah, kinda wack. I had thought we'd see the push come from insurers, who could use that sort of tracking data to really customize their coverage and rates (not to mention refuse to pay claims in which you were going 1 mph over the limit and so on).

I guess my question is, why do you need a GPS to track mileage? Doesn't my car already do that? I mean, I guess if you want to calculate distribution of the funds to localities and so on you'd need it, but computerizing the odometer does not strictly require a GPS unit, and would be a fuck of a lot cheaper. Hell, my focus already has a computerized odometer... slap on a short range radio and that's it.

I have nothing against the idea of taxing per mile though, in theory. By no means do i think the gas tax should go away, and in fact, I kinda feel like it should be progressive, but that's probly impractical at best. -k]

CBS News | States Mull Taxing Drivers By Mile