Oregon is considering eliminating its state gasoline tax and instead taxing drivers based on where and when they drive. This is a terrible idea, and so far the test has had technical glitches that could prevent it from ever going live.
Oregon has installed GPS devices in cars that track the time of day and location where they are driven, according to the Oregonian. If you stay off the main roads and rush hour, in theory you would pay less taxes than the flat percentage from the gas tax.
This idea is so brain dead it could only come from the government. It only benefits people who don't have conventional 9-5 jobs, and rewards people for leisure driving and driving fuel inefficient cars. At least the current fuel tax is per gallon, not per mile, which saves people who buy more fuel efficient cars. And forget your privacy.
Since I work at home, this plan would save me more than most, but it is ridiculous and would benefit a few people who have odd working hours or short commutes. Driving in traffic jams is penalty enough.
What could work is giving people a tax credit for miles commuted to work, and raise the taxes for leisure miles. This would reward people who take public transit or drive efficient vehicles, while increasing the cost of non-essential driving.
Source: The Oregonian
