The Washington State Department of Transportation (WSDOT) is considering another way to get money out of drivers, this time via a road usage tax. Essentially, drivers would be taxed for every mile they drive.
It’s unclear whether or not the tax would be in addition to the existing gas tax, or if it would replace it. MyNorthwest.com,
“The sentiment behind a by-the-mile tax is that as cars become more fuel efficient, or hybrids cut down on gas usage, or use of electric cars — that don’t use gas at all — increases, the gas tax revenue decreases. By taxing for road usage, the aim would be to ’level the playing field,’ according to Transportation Commissioner Reema Griffith. Then, more fuel efficient cars would contribute as much as gas guzzlers.”
The road usage tax would cost the average car driver $25 per month. If the tax replaces the gas tax, the average truck and SUV would actually save about $7.93 in taxes. Hybrids would pay an estimated $14.02 more per year.
However, based on WDOT’s track record, the chance that the road usage tax would replace the gas tax is slim to none. It is far more likely the tax would be added to the gas tax.
So, how exactly would WSDOT enforce the tax? MyNorthwest.com,
“There are different ways the state could track the mile usage of each driver. So far, methods using GPS and simply checking a car’s odometer have been discussed at the state level.”
That means, as KIRO’s Dori Monson reminds us, government would track “where we drive, how far we drive, how long we’re gone.” Many complications ensue including how the state would know if drivers were in Washington or Oregon or elsewhere, or even off road.
It goes without saying that the privacy problems associated with a road usage tax are truly troubling – but not to WSDOT.
