Oregon Gov. Wants to Track Drivers' Mileage by Satellite

[Knightskye]

http://www.dhonline.com/articles/2008/12/28/news/local/1aaa02_road.txt

The governor wants the task force “to partner with auto manufacturers to refine technology that would enable Oregonians to pay for the transportation system based on how many miles they drive.”

The online outline adds: “The governor is committed to ensuring that rural Oregon is not adversely affected and that privacy concerns are addressed.”

I think I'd rather have a gas tax.

Why doesn't he change it to a fuel tax and just have it wherever there's a "gas" station?

 

[phill4paul]

Their sentiments echo North Carolinas latest. Seems our state is looking at the same thing.

http://www.qando.net/details.aspx?entry=9873

" If the “road-use tax” is implemented, it would at first be simple – with the state checking your odometer annually and taxing you based on how many miles you have driven. But transportation experts say new GPS technology could allow the state to charge people different rates based on when and where they drive, in an attempt to manage congestion."


I'm pretty sure we all know why a simple gas tax is not enough for them

 

[acptulsa]

I think I'd rather have a gas tax.

Why doesn't he change it to a fuel tax and just have it wherever there's a "gas" station?

You must never have been there. Outrageous taxes on fuel plus a goofy law shared by only one other state that prohibits you from serving yourself combine to create some of the highest pump prices in the nation. Anyone who lives anywhere near the border buys their gas in any other state they can reach. I always tank up just before entering the state when I drive to the Pacific Northwet.

Of course, this satellite crap is just the most invasive possible solution to a problem of their own making--people drive on their highways using gas from another state every chance they get. If they merely gave their residents credit for being able to fill their own tanks without professional assistance that would do the job just as well. But, of course, stubborn wins over logical time after time in state houses all over the world, not just in Salem...

 

[Knightskye]

Is there a solution that doesn't require the government to track your car's mileage, or violate any other rights?

 

[bojo68]

Is there a solution that doesn't require the government to track your car's mileage, or violate any other rights?

Well, first of all, it hasn't been demonstrated that there is indeed a problem . Sorry, but to me, just sniveling that there isn't enough money doesn't cut it, you need PROOF. So, IF indeed more money is needed,(which I doubt) the absolutely MOST FAIR way to raise it is the fuel tax, which already exists, and has no more costs. The problem govt. has now is they can't put the bite on those that conserve. I think that's just wonderful. If you ride a bike, your taxed at as rate that reflects the amount of wear and tear that you put upon the road, NONE. If you drive some flea bitten fuel squeezing that a good sneeze would knock 3 feet sideways, your taxed accordingly. Hummer?? Taxed accordingly. Semi?? taxed accordingly. All with the simple adjustment of the gas tax to reflect costs.
As far as the idea that the solution to the supposed problem that may or may not exist is to have govt know where everybody is at all times, I'm hoping I don't have to explain how illegal that is...

 

[jm1776]

The next natural extension of this will be automated speeding tickets in the mail. GPS evidence does not lie, no need for a court or judge. What a revenue booster!

 

[Anti Federalist]

Conspiracy kooks like myself having been following this story for years.

Has nothing to do with revenue, has nothing to do with road maintenance, has nothing to to do with being more "fair".

It has everything to do with government keeping a hairy eyeball on every mile you drive and where you drive it.

 

[Anti Federalist]

The next natural extension of this will be automated speeding tickets in the mail. GPS evidence does not lie, no need for a court or judge. What a revenue booster!

What will be next is a monthly uplink from your OBDII EEC system.

Any new vehicle keeps a record of fuel burn and driving habits, among dozens of other things.

You will then be "carbon taxed" and you will taxed "progressively" based on what you driving habits are.

 

[bojo68]

The next natural extension of this will be automated speeding tickets in the mail. GPS evidence does not lie, no need for a court or judge. What a revenue booster!

We already have that, it's called photo radar. Funniest part is, supposedly it doesn't lie either. Guess what?? Somebody got a speeding ticket, and it was sent to a state representative. Keep in mind that the state rep is heavy set, with a head that must be 18 inches wide, and drives something on the order of a crew cab Ford Diesel. The photo shows a black Mazda rx7, that he probably couldn't even get in....

 

[fedup100]

The states are no longer sovereign. These Governors go to D.C. each year and are given their marching orders according to the feds new world order. The Governors come back and do the same to the city mayors and city councils

This is why you see these red light cameras and this satellite crap going down in every State. People it is well past time to stand up and do something.

The frog is no longer slowly coming to a boil, he is cooked and they are putting on their bibs and are ready to devour all of you and yours.

 

[aravoth]

http://www.dhonline.com/articles/2008/12/28/news/local/1aaa02_road.txt



I think I'd rather have a gas tax.

Why doesn't he change it to a fuel tax and just have it wherever there's a "gas" station?

What do you mean "change it to a fuel tax"?

We already have a fuel Tax, thats why he wants to do this. You see, in the socialistic Shithole of a state I live in, people got all uppity and frightened about global warming, so people started buying hybrids en mass. Well, the state, after encouraging this activity with incentives, has now realized that the revenue from the gas tax has gone down. So in order to keep all the state workers employed they have to come up with another way to steal our money, and they want to do it by tracking every grocery store you go to, when you go to a movie, a bar, the woods, a mall, the hosipital, etc.

I hate Oregon, this place could catch on fire, get hit by a meteorite and fall into the ocean, and the only think I would say is, "Thank god, the gene pool of humanity has been spared."

 

[bojo68]

What do you mean "change it to a fuel tax"?

We already have a fuel Tax, thats why he wants to do this. You see, in the socialistic Shithole of a state I live in, people got all uppity and frightened about global warming, so people started buying hybrids en mass. Well, the state, after encouraging this activity with incentives, has now realized that the revenue from the gas tax has gone down. So in order to keep all the state workers employed they have to come up with another way to steal our money, and they want to do it by tracking every grocery store you go to, when you go to a movie, a bar, the woods, a mall, the hosipital, etc.

I hate Oregon, this place could catch on fire, get hit by a meteorite and fall into the ocean, and the only think I would say is, "Thank god, the gene pool of humanity has been spared."

Hehe! Agreed on the Socialistic shithole! But we DO have one of the better constitutions, even if most here are to stupid to know or use it.

 

[lynnf]

better idea?

I think I have a better idea: let's track all the politicians, only, wherever they go, and
send them a little shock through their tracking devices whenever they vote the wrong way, like for these stupid notions!

lynn

 

[bojo68]

I think I have a better idea: let's track all the politicians, only, wherever they go, and
send them a little shock through their tracking devices whenever they vote the wrong way, like for these stupid notions!

lynn

Now there's an idea with some interesting promise. They could be tracked by their phones. Not only that, we could demand that their phones be ON during all voice votes, and record their positions, through the public meetings laws. We might even be able to track when our govenors are molesting 14 yr olds...

 

[Anti Federalist]

I think I have a better idea: let's track all the politicians, only, wherever they go, and
send them a little shock through their tracking devices whenever they vote the wrong way, like for these stupid notions!

lynn

They'd exempt themselves.

 

[Knightskye]

I think I have a better idea: let's track all the politicians, only, wherever they go, and
send them a little shock through their tracking devices whenever they vote the wrong way, like for these stupid notions!

lynn

The only problem - Congress would have to approve that first.

Catch 22. They're not gonna stop something that benefits them, but they'd stop anything that didn't. Think about that automatic pay raise.

 

[scandinaviany3]

gas tax

http://www.dhonline.com/articles/2008/12/28/news/local/1aaa02_road.txt



I think I'd rather have a gas tax.

Why doesn't he change it to a fuel tax and just have it wherever there's a "gas" station?

revenue i believe from gas tax's they cant afford to loose.

Local university worked on gps based idea for a while knowing fuel economy will reduce the revenue.

Therefore they want to shift to the actual mileage you drive on a freeway.

What they need to do is grow energy production in the state and tax the sale of it out of state swap that revenue out.

Wave, Tide, Geo, Wind...is very ripe for the picking and the bridge to southern california is ripe for sales

 

[fj45lvr]

You must never have been there. Outrageous taxes on fuel plus a goofy law shared by only one other state that prohibits you from serving yourself combine to create some of the highest pump prices in the nation. Anyone who lives anywhere near the border buys their gas in any other state they can reach. I always tank up just before entering the state when I drive to the Pacific Northwet....

Well you're completely wrong on this account...both Washington State and California have higher Gas prices at the pump and are SELF SERVE!!! (legalizing self serve just makes it more likely that the owners can capture the minimum wage salaries as additional profit with no bearing on the prices).

I am against laws that don't allow self service but I must say that the argument that self-serve is going to end up making the fuel cheaper is about as DUMB as they come.

 

[acptulsa]

I am against laws that don't allow self service but I must say that the argument that self-serve is going to end up making the fuel cheaper is about as DUMB as they come.

Interesting argument. I don't believe it.

California does rival Oregon's gas prices, but California requires a plethora of additional additives in hopes of clearing Los Angeles' air. The highest gas prices in the state of Washington are along the Oregon border and that's the truth. Even midtown Seattle isn't as bad.

Salaries for a bigger crew affect the bottom line. While I admit that the bottom line is not the final arbiter of retail prices, the fact is that more lee way can and often does result in more price competition. A store with gas pumps can run half the crew if all pumps are self service. Therefore, it can sell for less. And if the market requires it, it will do so.

 

[tremendoustie]

What do you mean "change it to a fuel tax"?

We already have a fuel Tax, thats why he wants to do this. You see, in the socialistic Shithole of a state I live in, people got all uppity and frightened about global warming, so people started buying hybrids en mass. Well, the state, after encouraging this activity with incentives, has now realized that the revenue from the gas tax has gone down. So in order to keep all the state workers employed they have to come up with another way to steal our money, and they want to do it by tracking every grocery store you go to, when you go to a movie, a bar, the woods, a mall, the hosipital, etc.

I hate Oregon, this place could catch on fire, get hit by a meteorite and fall into the ocean, and the only think I would say is, "Thank god, the gene pool of humanity has been spared."

You know, not that I'd agree with this, but if they want more taxes, why not just raise the gas tax more? I mean, more disincentive to buy SUVs, right? They should be all for it.

I mean, I don't think their explicit goal is to actually become big brother, but jeez, if it were, I'm not sure what they'd do differently ...