The House is working on a five-year highway reauthorization bill that would authorize $580 billion ahead of the current law expiration on September 30.
Why not tax on weight and milage. Then it doesn’t matter the type of engine you have or how efficient it is. Only how far you go and how much you damage the road as a result?
It’s not a bad idea - though it does add the overhead of some new bureaucracy. Somebody will need to gather that data yearly. Maybe could be done as part of auto inspections though.
Yeah - it “makes sense” but getting from logical to legislation is a bitch. People don’t like “new taxes” and working out the details would be tricky. Do you apply it to ICE automobiles as well? If so do you reduce the gas tax? If so you’ll be giving a potential benefit to gas guzzlers. etc.
You apply it to all vehicles. The intention of the gas tax was to help offset road maintenance. The biggest damage is based on weight and the more miles you drive, the more you cause that damage.
The efficiency of the engine isn’t at play here, if it was, then this “EV” tax should also be targeting hybrids and PHEVs since they’re utilizing less gas too by being more efficient.
Why not tax on weight and milage. Then it doesn’t matter the type of engine you have or how efficient it is. Only how far you go and how much you damage the road as a result?
Agreed. Kill the gas tax, assess the fee on registration and record the mileage at that time.
It’s not a bad idea - though it does add the overhead of some new bureaucracy. Somebody will need to gather that data yearly. Maybe could be done as part of auto inspections though.
That’s what I’m thinking. They’re already doing inspections in most places or emissions tests, just add it as a line item.
Yeah - it “makes sense” but getting from logical to legislation is a bitch. People don’t like “new taxes” and working out the details would be tricky. Do you apply it to ICE automobiles as well? If so do you reduce the gas tax? If so you’ll be giving a potential benefit to gas guzzlers. etc.
You apply it to all vehicles. The intention of the gas tax was to help offset road maintenance. The biggest damage is based on weight and the more miles you drive, the more you cause that damage.
The efficiency of the engine isn’t at play here, if it was, then this “EV” tax should also be targeting hybrids and PHEVs since they’re utilizing less gas too by being more efficient.