Really interesting. As a former USDOT official (the last time we raised federal gasoline taxes, in 1992), I have long struggled with how to fairly apportion highway use taxes without invasion of privacy. The only way I can come up with is including auto/truck/vehicle mileage for annual auto inspections. The problem with that is some states now waive them especially for newer cars. The only other way is for peple to "self report" on state income tax forms, but we know that people lie. Having said that, we need to figure this out - electric vehicles are heavier and do more damage to bridges and highways than their lighter fossil fuel powered cousins. It's unfair to exclude "woke" vehicles from the cost of highway and bridge maintenance.
Agree with your comments on Hassan. Great guy! Always a planner. The problem with VMT taxes is that the legislature has already mandated the transition, which is necessary to capture dollars from the growing number of electric and hydrogen vehicles. But, they will probably will not eliminate the gas tax that the VMT is supposed to replace. And it doesn't address the significant number of out-of-state vehicles that traverse our state or are "homed" here.
Really interesting. As a former USDOT official (the last time we raised federal gasoline taxes, in 1992), I have long struggled with how to fairly apportion highway use taxes without invasion of privacy. The only way I can come up with is including auto/truck/vehicle mileage for annual auto inspections. The problem with that is some states now waive them especially for newer cars. The only other way is for peple to "self report" on state income tax forms, but we know that people lie. Having said that, we need to figure this out - electric vehicles are heavier and do more damage to bridges and highways than their lighter fossil fuel powered cousins. It's unfair to exclude "woke" vehicles from the cost of highway and bridge maintenance.
Agree with your comments on Hassan. Great guy! Always a planner. The problem with VMT taxes is that the legislature has already mandated the transition, which is necessary to capture dollars from the growing number of electric and hydrogen vehicles. But, they will probably will not eliminate the gas tax that the VMT is supposed to replace. And it doesn't address the significant number of out-of-state vehicles that traverse our state or are "homed" here.
Mike Lewis