Taxing Drivers by the Mile, Gaining momentum

[N2ACX]

I know this is an old subject but it is gaining momentum and to date there may be more than 9 states studying this means of generating taxes.

GPS used as a Taxation Tool (http://www.caltax.org/member/digest/apr2001/apr01-07.htm)

There are many articles newer on this subject but you can see where this is going.

GPS is used by thousands of ham operators around the world as a way to track their postions as they travel using the APRS data thru the findu.com website. And also every new cell phone has this in case the user has an emergency and can only activate the phone call to 911.

As we know also the altitude, direction of travel and speed are available also. The speed data can also be used to ticket you if the average from one point to another exceeds the local speed limits.

There are other implications using GPS by Federal,state and local governments', got any ideas what they might be?

73 N2ACX

[kk7ue]

While taxation by the mile is nothing new to the trucking community, it IS a disturbing trend for the general motoring public to endure. In oregon, at a rate of a little more than 14 cents per mile, a truck averaging 5 mpg pays the equivalent of a 70 cent per gallon tax. So if your car was taxed at 5 cents per mile and you got 30 mpg, duh...you pay an average tax of $1.50 a gallon fuel tax. Sort of takes the incentive out of conserving err, sorry, saving fuel. Not hard to see why the government would want to do this. I would guess this car tax gps nonsense is coming primarily from areas under liberal domination. Only a guess. Your mileage may vary.
# As far as applications for gps data of your travels goes, I see it as your imagination is the limit. Any parameter of that vehicles travel can be documented and used against you accordingly. Drive too fast, get a ticket. Squeal tires at stoplights and get a fine for 'inappropriate resource management'. Too many hard braking and/or aggresive steering episodes and you get called in for drivers 'sensitvity' training. The list of potential infractions in this current social climate could be amazing. Might make me get out of the car if they want my information. Too bad its a 50 minute drive to work. #In that sense they kinda gotcha. http://www.qrz.com/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/mad.gif

[k6pme]

Shoulda known California was in on this. I see a little too much 'Big Brother' in this so I'll never consider it a viable option. Just the implications of financially outfitting all these cars is horrendous. I smell a huge profit for someone in this.