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So it averages out, since each state gets roughly the same passenger vehicular traffic as neighboring states. (Trucks are another matter, and many states has means of equalizing that impact.)
The point remains that there is no practicable way to for a state to assess the costs of highway use by mileage driven in that one specific state, either on vehicles from others states, or even on vehicles registered in that state. The gasoline tax remains the best means of simulating that ideal, and its supremacy in that regard is endangered by the ascendancy of hybrid and electric vehicles.
Because the primary purpose of gasoline taxes is to pay for roads, hybrid and electric car owners are under-taxed since they use the roads just like gasoline vehicles.
I oppose tracking devices in cars. I am not interested in additional complexity to the vehicle nor am I interested in the government having ability to track where I might drive. Any taxation based on the data provided by a tracking device will also be subject to tampering. I assume it would take only a day or so for someone to figure out how to hack a tracking device.
I think hybrids should just face a surcharge of some kind - possibly associated with the capacity of the battery itself.
Unlike bUU above, I do not think buyers of hybrids (etc.) need any reward from the government. Saving fuel is a reward by itself.
The government has already shown it cannot be trusted with tracking info
Frank the way this has been proposed is through GPS and I wouldn't support that. Not really practical for older cars anyway. They already record the mileage for yearly inspections, you would base it on that. Perhaps an estimated quarterly bill so someone isn't stuck with a huge bill at the end of the year, all taxes must be paid up to date on the vehicle when it's sold etc.
The point remains that there is no practicable way to for a state to assess the costs of highway use by mileage driven in that one specific state, either on vehicles from others states, or even on vehicles registered in that state.
I don't think any system other than GPS could be fair but we should not go down that road.
How are you going to fairly assess this on hybrid? All the proposals I have seen are flat taxes far below what a gasoline car is paying.
The fuel savings doesn't break-even even after 100,000 miles, given nominal parameters and even the maximum tax incentive.
Interesting calculator, but not relevant when discussing a tax on hybrids. Just because hybrids have a poor break even point doesn't mean their owners should be excused from paying for their road usage. Using that logic, anyone owning a Bentley should pay zero road taxes.
Interesting calculator, but not relevant when discussing a tax on hybrids. Just because hybrids have a poor break even point doesn't mean their owners should be excused from paying for their road usage.
I didn't say they should. You should go back and reread what I wrote, because you've not understood it at all.
Quote:
Originally Posted by hoffdano
I understand that. The government should not be distorting the economics of non-gasoline powered vehicles.
That is your preference. It is only your preference. People who care about what kind of world we're leaving their grandchildren and great-grandchildren disagree with you.
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