Vermont looking to tax miles driven

[Protagonist]

This isn't exactly original to Vermont (or is that Varmint?). I believe the first time I heard of it was from the San Francisco Metropolitan Transportation Commission, back in July. A study of the concept showed that it could theoretically raise up to $15 million in tax revenues per day in the nine-county SF metro area, based on tax rates varying from 1¢ to 10¢ per mile.

Google "VMT Taxes" for a whole slew of articles. (VMT in this case stands for Vehicle Mileage Tax, not Vermont).

[perryg114]

Large Semi Trucks put more wear and tear on roads than cars do. If 90% of stuff was shipped by train the roads would last much longer and accidents would go down. The liberal states are the ones that started this greenie stuff and now they complain because they don't get enough tax from gasoline sales. I would think that putting a GPS in everyones' cars would cost a ton of money and lots of dollars for the people and computers that would make all this work. GPS is not fool proof and niether are computers. It would take all of 5 mins to buy a device that blocks the GPS signal so the car thinks it is not moving. This would be a logistical nightmare.

Perry

[eubank]

Please keep the political rhetoric in check. The community rules that we all agreed to are linked below:

http://www.airforums.com/forums/misc...ork&page=rules


Lynn

[byamcaravanner]

Originally Posted by mutcth

Let's put this another way. Should you be taxed for something you don't use? If you use the roads more by driving more miles, perhaps you should pay more towards their upkeep.

But are they going tax only for miles driven within the state? What about us Airstream folks who drive many miles on roads outside of our own state? In my case most of those out of state miles are paid for via tolls.

IMO, the gov't needs to just learn how to spend less... then they won't be running short all the time.

[rgesch]

The Socialist Republic of Vermont. What else would you expect?

[Wazbro]

It's not that new. I remember seeing it on TV several years ago.

Seems like it still isn't close to happening.

[MontyV]

GPS would not fly under the 4th amendment with our current SCOTUS. I also heard that a couple of years ago Vermont started to tax all planes that flew into the state. Even those that just flew in for a weekend vacation. The immediate fleeing of GA aircraft had such a devastating effect on the business' that make their living providing services on these planes that their efforts and the AOPA lobby got the law reversed. At some point some of these states will have to learn that we as consumers have options.

[perryg114]

Wow taxing the air is a bit extreme. All the new cars have black boxes. I bet there will be new and inventive ways to use those against us.

Perry

[jdalrymple]

I understand that, on the surface, the idea of tracking miles is a revenue replacement scheme that seems to have the added feature of being more equitable.
If one drives more, one pays more regardless of the amount of fuel they burn.
Maybe.
It is my belief that government simply spends too much.
Government can make a one billion dollar project cost three billion faster quicker than the blink of an eye.
How about instead of figuring out a way of collecting revenue lost by more efficient cars, we try to cut spending.
A few fewer street lights, a little less side walk, in the middle of nowhere, that no one will use. All nice items yes, but maybe we can’t, and should not, afford them.
It seems that they government views any lost revenue as monies stolen from them.
Government was never meant to be a business, continually seeking income.

[Airstream Dad]

Virginia did something interesting on the Beltway outside D.C.. The state partnered with a private company to build new tolled (EZpass) HOV/ express lanes. They run next to the regular, free lanes, so paying is by choice only. HOV-3 gets on for free with a special permit.

The interesting part is that the traffic is guaranteed to keep at 55 minimum by dynamically raising the tolls with the volume of traffic. So during rush hour and gridlock, they will keep raising the toll until they deter enough people into the regular lanes, to keep traffic moving.

Many of you might have encountered these lanes already coming up 95 from Richmond and taking the Virginia Beltway around D.C. to I-66, I-270 and so forth. I believe they are extending these to 95 down to Dale City.

I'd think GPS raises too many spooky tracking issues. Easier to just EZPass high volume areas, giving folks a free option.

Airstream Dad