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Today’s OC Register raises an interesting point on automobiles. It has been reported that at $.65 per gallon of gasoline California pays the highest state and federal taxes at the pump. In fact, consuming 50-75 million gallons of gasoline (and diesel fuel) per day (or 20 billion gallons per year) we consume more gasoline than any country in the world. Those fees are allegedly used to provide for our road and bridge infrastructure that trickles down to every county and city. i.e. Any CA city with population of 100,000 receives $10,000 to offset the cost of wear and tear and related maintenance of local streets.
President Obama is urging the auto industry and motorists to purchase electic vehicles (EV’s) and higher MPG passenger cars and light trucks. The CAFE plan calls for passenger cars to meet or exceed 39 MPG by 2016 and light trucks to achieve 30 MPG in the same timeframe. Note: According to the EPA those numbers translate into 29 MPG and 23 MPG respectfully. By 2025 the federal dream sheet elevates passenger cars to 60 MPG. Reaching those milestones will result in billions of lost user taxes at all levels of government. Let’s see. This is a win for motorists but may result in further decay of our roads due to the shortfall in tax revenue. I guess we can label this “cause and effect”
To make matters worse the federal government effort to encourage purchase of electric vehicles is a double edged sword. While gasoline or diesel powered vehicles pay towards road maintenance every time we fill up the same is not true for drivers of EV’s.
Recognizing the future loss of use taxes our northern neighbors in Oregon and Washington are currently promoting legislation to impose a mileage usage fee on all vehicles. Following is part of the proposed Oregon House Bill HB 2328. In this proposal they are suggesting a EV charge of six cents per metered mile when traveling on Oregon highways.
76th OREGON LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY–2011 Regular Session
NOTE: Matter within { + braces and plus signs + } in an amended section is new. Matter within { – braces and minus signs – } is existing law to be omitted. New sections are within { + braces and plus signs + } .
LC 1440
House Bill 2328
Ordered printed by the Speaker pursuant to House Rule 12.00A (5).
Presession filed (at the request of House Interim Committee on Transportation for Road User Fee Task Force)
The following summary is not prepared by the sponsors of the measure and is not a part of the body thereof subject to consideration by the Legislative Assembly. It is an editor’s brief statement of the essential features of the measure as introduced.
Requires persons operating electric motor vehicles and plug-in hybrid electric motor vehicles to pay vehicle road usage charge. Becomes operative January 1, 2014.
Directs Department of Transportation to develop technology for reporting vehicle miles traveled.
Provides penalty for violation of laws related to payment and reporting of vehicle road usage charge. Punishes by maximum fine of $720.
Creates offense of tampering with vehicle metering system.
Punishes by maximum fine of $720.
Permits person to seek refund for miles driven on private property.
Modifies definition of ‘transportation project’ to allow department to enter into agreements under Oregon Innovative Partnerships Program for collection of vehicle road usage charge.
A BILL FOR AN ACT
Relating to motor vehicles; creating new provisions; amending ORS 319.280, 319.831 and 367.802; and providing for revenue raising that requires approval by a three-fifths majority.
Whereas a significant number of highly fuel-efficient vehicles are entering the marketplace; and
Whereas the fuel tax has become a less viable revenue source for funding Oregon’s road system over the long-term; and Whereas it is vital that we transition to an alternative revenue source, augmenting the fuel tax to provide the means to support the state’s system of roads and highways; and Whereas the solution is to charge users of certain fuel-efficient vehicles based on measured road use to augment the fuels tax as a revenue source for funding the road system; now, therefore, Be It Enacted by the People of the State of Oregon:
SECTION 1. { + Definitions. + } { + As used in sections 1 to 22 of this 2011 Act:
(1) ‘Electric motor vehicle’ means a motor vehicle that uses electricity as its only source of motive power.
(2) ‘Highway’ means every public way, road, street, thoroughfare and place, including bridges, viaducts and other structures within the boundaries of this state, open, used or intended for use of the general public for vehicles or vehicular traffic as a matter of right.
(3) ‘Lessee’ means a person who leases a motor vehicle that is registered in Oregon and who is subject to the vehicle road usage charge under section 2 of this 2011 Act.
(4) ‘Plug-in hybrid electric motor vehicle’ means a motor vehicle that uses electricity and another source of motive power and is designed for electric plug-in charging.
(5) ‘Registered owner’ means a person who is the registered owner of a motor vehicle that is registered in Oregon and who is subject to the vehicle road usage charge under section 2 of this 2011 Act. + }
SECTION 2. { + Vehicle road usage charge. (1) Except as provided in subsection (2) of this section, the registered owner of an electric motor vehicle or plug-in hybrid electric motor vehicle shall pay a vehicle road usage charge.
(2) A lessee of an electric motor vehicle or plug-in hybrid electric motor vehicle shall pay a vehicle road usage charge.
(3) A person subject to the vehicle road usage charge shall pay 0.6 cents per mile for metered use of the highways in Oregon.
(4) This section does not apply to a vehicle dealer that holds a certificate issued under ORS 822.005. + }
SECTION 3. { + Methods of reporting vehicle miles traveled.
(1) The Department of Transportation shall establish methods for identifying the motor vehicles that are subject to the vehicle road usage charge established in section 2 of this 2011 Act and establish the methods for reporting the number of miles the motor vehicles traveled on the highway system.
(2) The department shall take into account at least the following when taking action under subsection (1) of this section:
(a) The accuracy of the data collected;
(b) Privacy options for persons paying the vehicle road usage charge;
(c) The adaptability of the technology used;
(d) The installation of the technology;
(e) The safety of the installation; and
(f) Tamper-resistant technology.
(3) The department shall establish at least one method of collecting and reporting the number of miles traveled by the motor vehicle that does not use vehicle location technology.
(4) The department may require that a vehicle subject to the vehicle road usage charge be capable of electronically reporting the odometer reading or be equipped with technology approved by the department that is capable of electronically reporting the odometer reading.
(5) The department shall establish standards for vehicle location technology that is capable of reporting the motor vehicle’s geographic location for the purpose of differentiating between miles traveled within this state and miles traveled outside of this state. + }
Gilbert note. As a conservative I am not promoting any legislation to impose taxes or fees on motorists. In fact the Oregon story is over a month old. Based on today’s article I am adding my above commentary and postat this time.
Fill R Up
Larry, remember when your big cause was Proposition 8 (which I still have a hard time understanding) and I told you, if you don’t like gay marriage then don’t get gay married?
Well, again, now that I see your latest crusade is against electric cars, I would urge you not to buy one.
Brother Vern.
Sometimes progress comes at a cost.
A few years ago I pointed out the down side of converting a chunk of our corn crop to Ethanol. We feel the pain at the supermarket while the cost of chicken, beef, pork and eggs have all increased. Tortillas have also taken a cost hit in Mexico where they are a main staple.
We add 10% ethanol at the pump, the engine runs hotter, and our MPG shrinks. Great idea, NOT!
As to the EV. While I understand the need to break away from the OPEC chains on our barrels of imported crude, and, whereas EV is part of the solution, less taxes to repair our roads and bridges will be a fallout when motorists driving electric vehicle pass hundreds of service stations while driving 15,000 miles every year that cumulatively will result in necessary infrastructure repairs in the billions of dollars we simply don’t have.
Mr. Gilbert,
Obviously you are clueless!
The cost of chicken, beef, pork and eggs increase has noting to do with corn conversion to Ethanol and everything to do with weak dollar as result of your and Vern socialistic ideas.
Six European countries recently voted not to give any money to Portugal socialism.
USA credit was downgraded to negative.
Oil is traded in petrol-dollars so if dollar drops 50% tho price of oil raises to double.
You and Vern are both problem and because you will not change we will pay big price for your forced pseudo-progress.
The only progress which produces wealth is spontaneous progress based on the supply and demand as was “.com” boom.
Stanley, Stanley
At the time I addressed this switch corn was selling at $2 per barrel and jumped to $4-5 dollars. It is a main feed source for farmers. Do your homework comrade b4 hitting key strokes.
“Nothing flat about tortilla prices.Some in Mexico cost 60 percent more, leading to a serious struggle for low-income people Carolyn Said, Chronicle Staff Writer, Saturday, January 13, 2007
Who jacked up the tortilla?
Prices for corn tortillas, a staple of Mexican diet and culture, are soaring south of the border. Some tortilla prices in Mexico have risen as much as 60 percent, hurting the low-income people who depend on it as their basic food.”
Stanley. It’s called supply and demand not a weak dollar.
That increase in cost was virtually overnight while the dollar has declined by roughly 20 percent over the past decade.
PS: Shall we blame it on a weak Peso?
“$2 per barrel and jumped to $4-5 dollars”…. Hmmmm
Obviously, because dollar lost half of its value. If you would compare corn to gold you wouldn’t see any significant difference.
Here is also misunderstanding!
The gold does never change its value. So if so called Gold double it price it means that the currency you pay for it lost half of its value.
The dollar maintain its value mainly on the psychological bases and secondary on deficit.
The only way out of this mess is to straighten the dollar which can be accomplished only by restoring the trust in the USA which is not currently possible with Obama and his lunatic socialistic policies.
People around the world are scared of the rising USA socialism.
New trusted countries are emerging Russia and China.
The USA is history! The 3hird world country. I do not see any candidate on the horizon which would be able to restore this worldvide trust.
There are other issues relating to banking, IRS and new draconian rules impose on day time trades which are to complicated to go into at this forum which lacks IQ membership.
Boeing S.C. plant at heart of labor lawsuit…….. Learn you two socialist to see what is happening because of the unions and assault on the corporations. http://www.postandcourier.com/news/2011/apr/20/boeing-sc-plant-heart-labor-lawsuit/
Stan, I am acquainted with Mr. Gilbert, and I do no know him to harbor any Socialistic ideas. I do not understand how you see him as a Socialist from his comments above.
Please explain how it is that you believe him to be a Socialist, and Vern Nelson too, based on their comments posted above.
As for the article you referenced about the NRLB trying to force Boeing to remove work from its non-union South Carolina and sent it back to its union infested plant in Washington, what is your point?
“As for the article you referenced about the NRLB trying to force Boeing to remove work from its non-union South Carolina and sent it back to its union infested plant in Washington, what is your point?”……. Exactly! because Boeing can’t be profitable with unions so they moved and now unions want to destroy Boeing by using Obama’s goons.
“Please explain how it is that you believe him to be a Socialist, and Vern Nelson too, based on their comments posted above.”
The socialism is not leftist concept.
The socialism is based on social structure pyramid down. In contrast individualism is base on social structure pyramid up
Both Nelson and Gilbert rely on ordering people via astigmatism, racism, hateism etc. to oppress an individual and to rob him of his unalienable rights by creator to life, liberty and persuade of happiness.
In the case of Nelson it is clear from his postings. In the case of Gilbert it is his love for oppressive HOA, pseudo-morality in addition to his postings.
I do not believe that you will understand Don because you have not been able to come to a similar conclusion on your own.
However here is my answer.
Invest in some good walking shoes, get a bicycle, take a couple trips on a bus or get a bus pass.
The golden age of the private automobile is coming to an end.
65 cents a gallon may be high, may be, but it does not come close to covering the cost of owning and operating the roadways. (Which is about 50 cent per mile per car in California)
Cook I have a better idea…… horse!
Back to the future.
Who needs condo or house?….. tipi!
As i said 3rd world country.
sounds good, add a hand or foot crank generator to power the big screen TV and DVD player, (maybe solar cells) so I can watch great movies like the “third man” or Electra Glide in Blue ”
The other day I was car pooling with a census worker to Buena Park, and I saw low mileage land yachts next to high mileage half cars next to electric hybrid cars, and busses, trucks, and motorcycles.
All of them going about 5 to 10 mph.
Soon even the slowest Childs bicycle will out strip the speed of automobiles.
What are you going to do? When you are priced out and / or taxed out of your private auto?
I must make sure that it will not happen.
Cook.
There was a time when the motor city of Detroit was jumping with 1.8 million people. Sadly it has become the poster child for “blight” and flight.
So the government will use Detroit as a beta site for massive mixed use development. SB 375 comes to mind. We shall see numerous high rise buildings going up, which I recall as tenements in Newark, NJ. Current housing will be bulldozed. You will not need a car or pick up truck to get around. Walk out your front door and catch a bus to the light rail station. We will have at least one million or more people in the future city of Detroit.
Note: Their current population is 713,000. That future generation will be able to live, work, shop, and play within walking distance of their flats or should I call them 900 square foot “condo’s.”
If this trial project is sucessfull we will eventually wipe out the burbs as we know them today and condense future housing to create mega cities without open spaces and active and passive parks for our kids to play.
Can we all get along. You will be able to meet and socialize with your neighbors. i.e. Instead of having your own swimming pool we will all go to the community pool and share a cold one with our neighbors.
The possibilities are endless.
Email from a friend living in the heartland:
Subj: Re: Odometer “user fee” for electric vehicles
And a very good point from Larry… Not that the EV’s will wear out our roads soon but the out of state cars and trucks pay that tax for the state roads as well and as soon as California’s EV’s and higher CAFE standards cut sufficiently into the “road maintenance tax” base the visitors will be asked to fork over an even higher proportion of the maintenance fees. Unless the legislature actually does something decisive … (he, he)
*Harry Lime (Stan) is still at it with his constant MIss Representations! Larry you are spot on
and what Stan doesn’t know about global economics could launch another Library in Alexandria!
The truth is Ethanol has a very direct cost to Butter Fat…..ever heard of Butter Stanley? The more Corn rises in price the higher cost of feeding cows, cattle, chickens, pigs and several movie theaters…….just for starters! The price of Butter Fat goes up for Buttter, Cream and other vital items which produce Candy Bars and millions of other products which of course raises the ugly head of inflation…which raises the CPI……which means that next year Seniors will be getting another rise in their Social Security payments….the Cost of Healthcar and Medicaid and my goodness what else? Oh yeah, our Dairy Exports will go down and Americans will have more access to good food products….but at a much higher cost.
So, you have to wonder about those swell guys in IOWA….that are sending big checks for re-election efforts to various Senators and Congressmen around the country.
Not to worry….we hear that Brazil is trying to plant more corn every day. How much is a gallon of their ethanol again?
So, Harry Lime (Stan)….as a rabid blogger…take a bite of that!
*Our deepest apologies,
*Forgot to mention for rest of the Population: Happy Easter!
Folks. At times I hesitate posting stories that may impact our nest egg, what’s left of it anyway.
Two weeks ago I wrote this post only to see that our president, after reading the Juice blog, is now proposing a mileage charge for all vehicles to raise funds to fix our roads.
Nice.
http://thehill.com/blogs/floor-action/house/159397-obama-floats-plan-to-tax-cars-by-the-mile