Comments on: VMT

By: C.T. Behemoth

C.T. Behemoth — Fri, 07 Aug 2009 02:43:01 +0000

Just make turnpikes already. Roads get improving, people still have the option to take slower, non-turnpike roads and the state gets to reallocate road monies elsewhere as monies collected from turnpikes takes their place.

Done. Plus, it’s better than a tax on Oregonians…everyone gets to play.

By: nike urbanism duk

nike urbanism duk — Thu, 06 Aug 2009 22:38:01 +0000

Vincent, do not forget Oregon gps will be a “pilot project”. Oregon is home of the Orwellian pioneers (nerds). Later the entire nation will be served by this hi tech environmental solution (in search of a problem). Eco-elite Earl proves that the only thing worse than politicians is politicians who ride bikes.

By: b

Thu, 06 Aug 2009 06:55:56 +0000

Yeah, I brought this up at work, and saying it out loud helped me realize the out-of-state mileage issue. Texas has toll roads, and that seems to work quite well. In fact, that’s about the only thing Texas has gotten right.

By: Vincent

Vincent — Wed, 05 Aug 2009 23:14:24 +0000

That is unless Oregon wants to try to assert some kind of “right” to levy taxes on what I do in other states, which, of course, would be treading on very thin ice.

By: Vincent

Vincent — Wed, 05 Aug 2009 23:11:51 +0000

Obviously having a GPS unit for tracking purposes is a bad idea. But, as I’ve already explained, simply checking the odometer doesn’t work, since it doesn’t take into account miles driven outside of Oregon.

If I drive 200 miles to the state border and then do a 1000+ mile cross-country trip, the odometer will not differentiate between my taxable “Oregon” miles and my non-taxable “everywhere else in the entire country” miles.

By: Betz

Betz — Wed, 05 Aug 2009 20:26:52 +0000

Whats wrong with just checking the odometer? This would be a much simpler alternative: If you have a vehicle registered in the DMV of Oregon, then every year or so you would calculate up your miles traveled (I would assume that you would have your last year’s numbers accessible to you). Then, you take the difference, and find your car tax out of that.

If we were to have a per-mile tax (which sounds absofuckinghorriblelutly), then this would be my recommendation for it. Having GPS locational info (which is completely accessible … that is, after all, the point of having a GPS in your vehicle) be “undisclosed” …. BS. Government has a fetish for paper trails and information … its in their blood.

Its like if you tell your kids: “Now this Christmas, we have hidden the presents in the closet … they are against the back wall, behind the dresses … but don’t look! Do you promise?” “Of course, Mom!”, and then you leave for a week and a half … “Sure, we didn’t peek … we’re honest!”

By: Vincent

Vincent — Wed, 05 Aug 2009 07:50:58 +0000

Sounds like this, which I wrote about some months ago, is unfortunately proceeding apace. b: The problem with that approach is that it doesn't take into account miles traveled outside the state of Oregon.

By: Miles Rost

Miles Rost — Wed, 05 Aug 2009 04:45:01 +0000

Something about illegal search and seizure regarding someone’s personal belongings, including monitoring, seems to fit in here.

Is that the 4th Amendment, by perchance?

By: b

Wed, 05 Aug 2009 02:48:13 +0000

If they really wanted to track mileage, couldn’t they just do it when you get your vehicle inspected? Do they even inspect vehicles here? GPS Units in cars. gross me out while you get a throwback from Garmin.