Thread: Obama floats plan to tax cars by the mile...

Obama floats plan to tax cars by the mile

By Pete Kasperowicz - 05/05/11 07:45 AM ET
173 Comments

The Obama administration has floated a transportation authorization bill that would require the study and implementation of a plan to tax automobile drivers based on how many miles they drive.

The plan is a part of the administration's "Transportation Opportunities Act," an undated draft of which was obtained this week by Transportation Weekly.

This follows a March Congressional Budget Office report that supported the idea of taxing drivers based on miles driven.

Among other things, CBO suggested that a vehicle miles traveled (VMT) tax could be tracked by installing electronic equipment on each car to determine how many miles were driven; payment could take place electronically at filling stations.

The CBO report was requested by Senate Budget Committee Chairman Kent Conrad (D-ND), who has proposed taxing cars by the mile as a way to increase federal highway revenues.

Obama's proposal seems to follow up on that idea in section 2218 of the draft bill. That section would create, within the Federal Highway Administration, a Surface Transportation Revenue Alternatives Office. It would be tasked with creating a "study framework that defines the functionality of a mileage-based user fee system and other systems."

The administration seems to be aware of the need to prepare the public for what would likely be a controversial change to the way highway funds are collected. For example, the office is called on to serve a public relations function, as the draft says it should "increase public awareness regarding the need for an alternative funding source for surface transportation programs and provide information on possible approaches."

The draft bill says the "study framework" for the project and a public awareness communications plan should be established within two years of creating the office, and that field tests should begin within four years.

The office would be required to consider four factors in field trials: the capability of states to enforce payment, the reliability of technology, administrative costs, and "user acceptance." The draft does not specify where field trials should begin.

The new office would be funded a total of $200 million through FY 2017 for the project.

http://thehill.com/blogs/floor-action/h ... y-the-mile

Among other things, CBO suggested that a vehicle miles traveled (VMT) tax could be tracked by installing electronic equipment on each car to determine how many miles were driven; payment could take place electronically at filling stations.

Once the electronic tracking is in place and accepted it will only be a matter of time before the speeding ticket comes in the mail due to the sattelite determining your speed at that location.

Tracking speed and hours of service are already being used in some commercial trucks. This is to become mandatory in 2014 for all commercial trucks. More inflation, less competition, more power for the corporations and the government.

Don't pay your tax you say, or think? Then the electronics on board can also shut down your vehicle.

Let him TRY it.

He'll be needing a lot more than photos of Bin Ladin's corpse to pull him out of the fire.

Come on, their is no chance for this to happen.

We are taxed enough already and our governments (local, state and federal) are not good stewards of all the money they take from us now. So Obama and his America hating minions can stick this particular tax where the sun don't shine. He can come to North Carolina and ask Nelson Cole what happens to VMT proponents.

Big Brother wants to ride along in your car with you

May 05, 2011

What free country? Obama wants to track your car mileage

Rick Moran
30 Comments

This idea was floated last year but the reaction to it was so negative it disappeared.

But with the deficit and debt climbing, Washington is desperate for extra cash to spend, so it is apparently being revived. In essence, the government wants to slap a a special tracking device in your car that would record the mileage you use, and then tax it. You'd pay the tax when you fill up at gas stations who also, we would assume, have special equipment to read the mileage on the device in your car.

And if gas stations can read it, so can the government. And then there's the question of what other gizmos they might put in that device. GPS? Why not? Who's going to stop them?

The Obama administration denies that they are in favor of this, but several lawmakers have suggested it, as has the CBO. The Hill: http://thehill.com/blogs/floor-action/h ... y-the-mile

The Obama administration has floated a transportation authorization bill that would require the study and implementation of a plan to tax automobile drivers based on how many miles they drive.
The plan is a part of the administration's "Transportation Opportunities Act," an undated draft of which was obtained this week by Transportation Weekly.


The more innocuous sounding the title of the bill, the more a threat to American liberty.

March Congressional Budget Office report that supported the idea of taxing drivers based on miles driven.
Among other things, CBO suggested that a vehicle miles traveled (VMT) tax could be tracked by installing electronic equipment on each car to determine how many miles were driven; payment could take place electronically at filling stations.

The CBO report was requested by Senate Budget Committee Chairman Kent Conrad (D-ND), who has proposed taxing cars by the mile as a way to increase federal highway revenues.

Obama's proposal seems to follow up on that idea in section 2218 of the draft bill. That section would create, within the Federal Highway Administration, a Surface Transportation Revenue Alternatives Office. It would be tasked with creating a "study framework that defines the functionality of a mileage-based user fee system and other systems."

The marriage of technology and injudicious taxes is a marriage made in hell.

http://www.americanthinker.com/blog/201 ... wants.html

Originally Posted by AirborneSapper7

And then there's the question of what other gizmos they might put in that device. GPS? Why not? Who's going to stop them?

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Even the Soviets did not attempt such communistic controls.

This would be the LAST STRAW, you can count on it.