Washington pay-by-mile pilot program approval expected - Polidicks

[quote] SEATTLE -- The Washington State Transportation Commission is expected to approve a pilot project designed to charge drivers for every mile they travel on public roads. A Road Usage Charge would eventually replace the gas tax in Washington State, which has brought in less revenue with more hybrid and electric vehicles using less gas. A GPS device would track miles driven and charge accordingly. Testing would begin in 2016. [/quote] source: [url]http://www.nwcn.com/story/news/local/tacoma/2014/12/09/transportation-gas-tax-pay-by-mile/20134161/[/url] I live in Washington. Really wish they would use the money they get currently for a proper light rail system. Not just from Kent to Seattle, get a good one going from seattle to bellevue and up to Everett and into Redmond. I believe they do have plans to get a light rail from Seattle to Bellevue, but that is years down the road.

This sounds like a humongous fucking pain in the ass to track.

[QUOTE]A Road Usage Charge would eventually replace the gas tax in Washington State, which has brought in less revenue with more hybrid and electric vehicles using less gas.[/QUOTE] Huh, now that I that I think about it, it makes sense that if you got rid of gas driven cars they'd need a new way to support road taxes. Surprised that it's having that big of a dent already though

[quote]A GPS device would track miles driven and charge accordingly.[/quote] This is going to raise a shitstorm around privacy

Yeah good luck with that... So now you gotta provide GPS units for the cars, then you got to have the service to obtain the information. Just do a regular road tax like the UK does. Much easier and less likely to get resistance from it.

Ironically this will probably be less invasive surveillance-wise than cellphone tracking, because people are actually aware of it. Still not a fan though.

[QUOTE=Elspin;46681091]Huh, now that I that I think about it, it makes sense that if you got rid of gas driven cars they'd need a new way to support road taxes. Surprised that it's having that big of a dent already though[/QUOTE] I believe it, even modern completely gas powered engines get fucking great mileage.

[QUOTE]Testing would begin in [B]2016[/B]. A GPS requirement wouldn't happen until at least [B]2017[/B]. Full implementation would not begin until [B]2018[/B].[/QUOTE] We have plenty of time to freak out about this! Horray!

[QUOTE=Cmx;46681111]This is going to raise a shitstorm around privacy[/QUOTE] Which is why I would not support this shit or use such a device.

[QUOTE=TestECull;46681184]Which is why I would not support this shit or use such a device.[/QUOTE] Then don't use it! Anyhow, we don't know how much it's going to cost, it's not like it will be $50 a mile. [QUOTE][B]Under the latest proposal, drivers would be able to choose from four options: - an "all you can drive" flat fee, - report their odometer readings to the state, - have a GPS locator installed in the car - or they can download a smartphone application.[/B][/QUOTE] I don't understand what's wrong about this, really, unless it's a very high cost. (Provided that they throw out the gps requirement)

[QUOTE=Cmx;46681111]This is going to raise a shitstorm around privacy[/QUOTE] There's no way they could possibly deny that they were just doing it to spy on people either, because there's a million other ways to track miles driven that don't also [i]tell the other party exactly where you've been[/i]. I mean cars sort of already car an odometer without a GPS, thanks.

[quote]Under the latest proposal, drivers would be able to choose from four options: an "all you can drive" flat fee, report their odometer readings to the state, have a GPS locator installed in the car or they can download a smartphone application.[/quote] At least there are options. I'd rather not have my car lojacked 24/7. [quote]The commission says non-GPS based systems are also being tested to address privacy concerns.[/quote] okay good

Just take the gps tracker out of your car and leave it at home

[QUOTE=meppers;46681257]Just take the gps tracker out of your car and leave it at home[/QUOTE] Just commit tax fraud guys, it's cool.

[QUOTE=Dcmetax;46681191]Then don't use it![/quote] Can you not read? I clearly said it's a reason I wouldn't use it in the post you quoted. Please kindly [i]read[/i] before you reply, don't knee-jerk to the first few words you see.

i wonder what the flat fee is going to be. i guess i better start thinking which of these options i'll go with

[QUOTE=MR-X;46681142]Yeah good luck with that... So now you gotta provide GPS units for the cars, then you got to have the service to obtain the information. Just do a regular road tax like the UK does. Much easier and less likely to get resistance from it.[/QUOTE] This would probably be the best solution moving forward but it would require a concerted effort from lawmajers

[QUOTE=meppers;46681257]Just take the gps tracker out of your car and leave it at home[/QUOTE] When you have to get back at your friend, take the tracker out of their car and tie it to a bird.

[QUOTE=l337k1ll4;46681328]When you have to get back at your friend, take the tracker out of their car and tie it to a bird.[/QUOTE] *in court* So you drove across the Gulf of Mexico?

[quote]or they can download a smartphone application.[/quote] This especially sounds the most vulnerable to abuse. I don't always have my phone.

[QUOTE=Mort Stroodle;46681077]This sounds like a humongous fucking pain in the ass to track.[/QUOTE] Also must suck for people living in rural areas who drive hours to work every day.

[QUOTE=Elecbullet;46681441]This especially sounds the most vulnerable to abuse. I don't always have my phone.[/QUOTE] Unless the data has to be offloaded from the app, wouldn't it be easy enough to get a fake app that simply shows whatever you want it to show?

[QUOTE=TestECull;46681271]Can you not read? I clearly said it's a reason I wouldn't use it in the post you quoted. Please kindly [i]read[/i] before you reply, don't knee-jerk to the first few words you see.[/QUOTE] You know, I see this happen just about every single time I see you post. Have you ever considered the possibility that you're actually not making your point clearly rather than others being unable to read? Cause with the consistency that it happens with you in particular that's what it strongly suggests.

... A GPS tracker, in every car. Nope, nope, nope, nope, nope nope nope nope nope nope nopenopenopenopenopenope

[QUOTE=gufu;46681529]Unless the data has to be offloaded from the app, wouldn't it be easy enough to get a fake app that simply shows whatever you want it to show?[/QUOTE] Tax evasion of all sorts isnt necessarily difficult. It's very illegal and often very noticable, however

[QUOTE=Mort Stroodle;46681269]Just commit tax fraud guys, it's cool.[/QUOTE] You commit tax fraud every time you buy shit online and don't pay tax, yet I don't see a single person doing their duty as a citizen and going down to the county comptroller and paying the sales tax on said items. You're all [I]criminals[/I]. The government needs to find ways to not create new taxes and still balance the budget.

[QUOTE]A GPS device would track miles driven and charge accordingly.[/QUOTE] Like fuck people are going to be okay with the government bugging their cars and charging them money for the privilege. Especially when [URL="http://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/supreme-court-warrants-needed-in-gps-tracking/2012/01/23/gIQAx7qGLQ_story.html"]the Supreme Court says you need a warrant to track someone's car.[/URL] Never going to happen. Of course, between Onstar-like systems and cell phone tracking, the government can already track your location any time they feel like it. But they can't send you a [I]bill[/I] for it.

[QUOTE=Dcmetax;46681191]Then don't use it! Anyhow, we don't know how much it's going to cost, it's not like it will be $50 a mile. I don't understand what's wrong about this, really, unless it's a very high cost. (Provided that they throw out the gps requirement)[/QUOTE] The problem with this method of taxation (and with toll roads and bridges in general) is that it places the greatest financial strain on those least able to pay it. Flat rate fees and taxes have a much greater impact on the lives of low income families. The goals could be better met by a minor variable tax hike on higher income brackets. Ultimately, I guess the success of the flat fee system will depend on the rates that Washington's government would actually wish to charge. Despite the fact that I believe that any competent organization would [I]poo poo[/I] flat rate fees for travel based on the previously mentioned fuckery it promotes, I would at least like to have faith that a governing body could manage to make flat fees affordable even for those well below the poverty line. I mean, I don't. But I'd like to. So we'll see.

they actually wanted to do it here too a while ago but all the commotion stopped it from happening. So I don't see this happening in the usa at all, because muh freedoms!

I drive a company car and pay 15p per mile instead of paying for fuel, and I pay it once a month. Its a pain but its much easier to budget as you know exactly how much a journey will cost