Article

2023-08-13 Science & Technology

Techno-Hell: Utah and Oregon Now Require GPS Trackers on EVs in Lieu of Registration Fee, Tax Drivers by the Mile

[PJMedia] State governments have historically generated revenue to maintain roads, traffic lights, and the like by adding a tax at the pump. Owing to the federal government-prodded transition to electric vehicles (EVs) to combat something called "climate change," states stand to lose out on this source of revenue as EVs obviously don’t require gasoline to operate.

Utah’s novel solution is to charge a "per-mile fee" for EVs with a government GPS tracker attached to monitor movement.

Utah roads are maintained using taxes from gasoline sales. As vehicles become more fuel efficient and the number of electric vehicles grows, the Utah Department of Transportation and Division of Motor Vehicles is changing to a per-mile fee as a way for drivers to pay their portion of roadway operations and maintenance...

You will pay 1.00 cents per mile, deducted from the prepaid wallet, up to the amount of the flat fee. Enrolling in Utah’s Road Usage Charge program gives you access to DriveSync® for Utah DOT an app that makes your driving safer and more productive through trip tracking and driving reports.

For a little added Orwellianism, the DriveSync® app also assigns a "driving score" based on how fast the ~~slave~~ citizen accelerates, brakes, corners turns, and drives. The app records bad driving behavior and shows it to the slave citizen on a digital map.

Oregon is instituting a similar policy, via KGW8 NBC:

ODOT created a website and program called OReGO where drivers can sign up to volunteer for a program where they pay a fee for every mile they drive on public roads. Currently it’s just under 2 cents per mile.

The program isn’t gaining much traction. About 700 people have signed up so far, either reporting their mileage to the state or by using GPS devices to track their travel.

The people driving hybrids are still paying for gas at the pump, so each quarter their account is balanced to credit the mileage fee against the gas tax, ensuring that they don’t end up paying both.

Michigan’s up next, via ABC News 12:

With electric vehicles on the rise, the Michigan Department of Transportation is exploring new options to replace the gas tax.

One potential avenue is a road usage charge system, which would require residents to place a GPS tracker in their vehicle to keep track of their mileage.

Similar systems are already in place in Utah and Oregon. Utah charges drivers 1 cent per mile, while Oregon charges drivers 1.9 cents per mile.

The technocrats love nothing more than killing two (or three) birds with one stone. In this case, said birds are: getting rid of gas-powered cars, inventing for themselves a brand-new revenue generation scheme, and instituting even more tracking power to make sure the peasants behave themselves.

Posted by DarthVader 2023-08-13 14:16|| || Front Page|| [24 views ] Top

#1 It should be alright. The good people of Utah don’t commute long distances.

Posted by Super Hose 2023-08-13 14:56|| 2023-08-13 14:56|| Front Page Top

#2 "Citizen, the speed limit is 55mph. You have exceeded that for approximately 10 minutes. Your vehicle will be disabled in 10 minutes for a 30 minute relearning period. Please safely exit the freeway"

Posted by Frank G 2023-08-13 16:22|| 2023-08-13 16:22|| Front Page Top

#3 Well, well, well, what a shock. NOT.

Posted by DooDahMan 2023-08-13 16:32|| 2023-08-13 16:32|| Front Page Top

#4 Since they don't buy gas they don't pay the fuel tax that goes to roads. I don't see a problem.

Posted by Deacon Blues 2023-08-13 19:40|| 2023-08-13 19:40|| Front Page Top

#5 The best part of these GPS schemes is that your mileage is turned into Personally Identifiable Information (PII). Normally, creating PII is bad, but in this case it is good because we can charge taxes based on who you are exactly. Think of it like tax brackets. Plus, not only does the state have access to a greater pool of money, but there are lots of make-work jobs administering the program. Win-win, baby!

Posted by SteveS 2023-08-13 19:44|| 2023-08-13 19:44|| Front Page Top

#6 Actually makes sense. EV's are heavier than equal size internal combustion vehicles, and put more wear on the roads and infrastructure.
Most multi level parking garages aren't rated at carrying the weight of a deck full of EV's.

Posted by ed in texas 2023-08-13 20:02|| 2023-08-13 20:02|| Front Page Top

#7 Charging EV's by the mile is just the beginning.

Posted by DooDahMan 2023-08-13 20:29|| 2023-08-13 20:29|| Front Page Top

#8 "Your trip to a non-adjoining State has not been pre-cleared. Please return to your County of Residence"

Posted by Frank G 2023-08-13 20:32|| 2023-08-13 20:32|| Front Page Top

#9 "Honey, the car won't start."

"I told you to fuel up when we had the chance.....uh, oh, never mind."

Posted by DooDahMan 2023-08-13 20:33|| 2023-08-13 20:33|| Front Page Top

#10 "WARNING! The authorities are aware that your vehicle is too close to the border of the sovereign state of Florida (or Texas). You are hereby advised to return whence you came. When you see the notice "Welcome to Fulton County", then you can rest assured that no further action will be taken."

Posted by DooDahMan 2023-08-13 20:36|| 2023-08-13 20:36|| Front Page Top

#11 ed in texas is right: EVs are heavier and put more stress on roads and bridges. Plus, they don't pay gas taxes, which are - in theory anyway - earmarked to pay for roads and bridges.
The problem is when they track WHERE you go, not just how far.

Posted by Rambler in Virginia 2023-08-13 21:32|| 2023-08-13 21:32|| Front Page Top