Washington pay-by-mile pilot program approval expected

[Tod]

Sounds like this very dangerous program is pretty unpopular.....


SEATTLE -- The Washington State Transportation Commission is expected to approve a pilot project designed to charge drivers for every mile they travel on public roads.

A Road Usage Charge would eventually replace the gas tax in Washington State, which has brought in less revenue with more hybrid and electric vehicles using less gas. A GPS device would track miles driven and charge accordingly. Testing would begin in 2016.
The state legislature will be asked in January to give final approval for the test project. A GPS requirement wouldn't happen until at least 2017. It is modeled after a similar pilot project happening in Oregon.
Lawmakers had asked the state's Transportation Commission to come up with a new funding system to pay for roads. Historically the state has relied on gas tax revenue to pay for most road maintenance projects.
"Our gas tax as a revenue source is… running out of gas, basically," said commission member Charles Royer, who said the move to more fuel efficient cars has made the gas tax unsustainable over the long term.
Royer, a former Seattle mayor, said drivers would need to be given choices how the state would monitor their mileage if lawmakers take action.
Under the latest proposal, drivers would be able to choose from four options: an "all you can drive" flat fee, report their odometer readings to the state, have a GPS locator installed in the car or they can download a smartphone application.
If Washington drivers are charged a "road usage" fee, they would get credited for any gas taxes paid.
Royer said the state is not interested in tracking where drivers are going, only how many miles they are driving on public roads. The commission says non-GPS based systems are also being tested to address privacy concerns.
If lawmakers approve the changeover, testing under a pilot program would begin in 2016. Full implementation would not begin until 2018.


http://www.nwcn.com/story/news/local/tacoma/2014/12/09/transportation-gas-tax-pay-by-mile/20134161/

[Origanalist]

Sounds like this very dangerous program is pretty unpopular.....


http://www.nwcn.com/story/news/local/tacoma/2014/12/09/transportation-gas-tax-pay-by-mile/20134161/

In two years there won't be any sane people left in this State, myself included.

[Anti Federalist]

In a few more years, that will be the end to any privacy on the road.

You will be tracked and traced and monitored every mile.

And the really grating part of this: they are not even trying anymore...it's all bullshit.

Theye tell us to "go green"...force us to.

Then theye say "we losing too much tax revenue".

Now, instead of just raising the gas tax, which would accomplish the same thing, theye come up with this scheme.

And if you really wanted to "tax by the mile", all you'd have to do is take a yearly odometer reading.

Nope, this is all about the ultimate surveillance grid, always has been.

Anything else is just the ruling class or their useful idiots pissing in your face and telling you "it's raining!"

[Origanalist]

In a few more years, that will be the end to any privacy on the road.

You will be tracked and traced and monitored every mile.

And the really grating part of this: they are not even trying anymore...it's all bullshit.

Theye tell us to "go green"...force us to.

Then theye say "we losing too much tax revenue".

Now, instead of just raising the gas tax, which would accomplish the same thing, theye come up with this scheme.

And if you really wanted to "tax by the mile", all you'd have to do is take a yearly odometer reading.

Nope, this is all about the ultimate surveillance grid, always has been.

Anything else is just the ruling class or their useful idiots pissing in your face and telling you "it's raining!"


Under the latest proposal, drivers would be able to choose from four options: an "all you can drive" flat fee, report their odometer readings to the state, have a GPS locator installed in the car or they can download a smartphone application.

That is how it will start, we all know how it will end. (even zippy)

[HOLLYWOOD]

Innovation... gets around their evil tyranny and theft

Mini-planes aka "Puddle-Jumpers"

[Origanalist]

Innovation... gets around their evil tyranny and theft

Mini-planes aka "Puddle-Jumpers"

Good luck landing one of those at the jobsite.

[Primbs]

When do they target bikers and walkers?

[Origanalist]

When do they target bikers and walkers?

As soon as they start taxing them.

[phill4paul]

Every robbery for "infrastructure" is put into a general fund. That fund is spent on anything but infrastructure. Been that way for at least 40 years. No wonder there is an emergency.