"The idea -- which involves tracking drivers through Global Positioning System (GPS) units in their cars -- is gaining support in some states as a way of making up for a shortfall in highway funding. Oregon carried out a pilot program and deemed it "successful."
Officials in Massachusetts told CNN this week that there has been talk of proposing such a system for the state. Colin Durant, a spokesman for Gov. Deval Patrick, said "privacy would be our top priority."
Patrick on Friday announced a different plan to help raise highway funds: a 19-cent increase in the state's gas tax. But he said that alone "will not solve all our challenges," and some "major reforms" will be needed.
Under a VMT (vehicle miles traveled) tax program, GPS units would allow the government to keep track of how much each car is driven and where -- though not necessarily with exact street locations. The government could also track other things, including the time each car enters a certain zone.
For decades, the fuel taxes that drivers pay at the pump have been the central source of federal and state funding for roads and bridges. But they are no longer nearly enough. Last fall, Congress approved an $8 billion infusion into the depleted federal highway trust fund.
The problem stems in part from something good: More and more Americans are buying vehicles that have better gas mileage. That means less gas tax money from each car, though the car is causing the same amount of wear and tear on the roads"
Source: http://articles.cnn.com/2009-02-20/...y-trust-fund-roads-and-bridges?_s=PM:POLITICS
Goodness I'm so glad that this plan wasn't pursued more fully. This really is an invasion of privacy in my eyes. Really!!??? It seems like we are going to get taxed for everything in the future...even moreso than we already are now. This could spell disaster for our economy if something even close to this passed while we are still in the recession that we are. No one would want to drive anymore because in addtion to going to the stores and etc and paying sales taxes and state taxes...you'd be getting taxed just for going to the store.
Anyways, I thought this was interesting, so I had to post it. What are your thoughts on this?
Officials in Massachusetts told CNN this week that there has been talk of proposing such a system for the state. Colin Durant, a spokesman for Gov. Deval Patrick, said "privacy would be our top priority."
Patrick on Friday announced a different plan to help raise highway funds: a 19-cent increase in the state's gas tax. But he said that alone "will not solve all our challenges," and some "major reforms" will be needed.
Under a VMT (vehicle miles traveled) tax program, GPS units would allow the government to keep track of how much each car is driven and where -- though not necessarily with exact street locations. The government could also track other things, including the time each car enters a certain zone.
For decades, the fuel taxes that drivers pay at the pump have been the central source of federal and state funding for roads and bridges. But they are no longer nearly enough. Last fall, Congress approved an $8 billion infusion into the depleted federal highway trust fund.
The problem stems in part from something good: More and more Americans are buying vehicles that have better gas mileage. That means less gas tax money from each car, though the car is causing the same amount of wear and tear on the roads"
Source: http://articles.cnn.com/2009-02-20/...y-trust-fund-roads-and-bridges?_s=PM:POLITICS
Goodness I'm so glad that this plan wasn't pursued more fully. This really is an invasion of privacy in my eyes. Really!!??? It seems like we are going to get taxed for everything in the future...even moreso than we already are now. This could spell disaster for our economy if something even close to this passed while we are still in the recession that we are. No one would want to drive anymore because in addtion to going to the stores and etc and paying sales taxes and state taxes...you'd be getting taxed just for going to the store.
Anyways, I thought this was interesting, so I had to post it. What are your thoughts on this?
