Originally Posted by axiomatik

Something will have to be done if electric cars ever become a significant portion of the cars on the road, because under the current taxation scheme, they would contribute nothing to the maintenance of the roads. But we are a long ways from needing to change the tax system. Right now, pretty much all cars on the road run on gas or diesel, so every one already pays a usage tax.

What the government needs to do is increase the federal gas tax. It is at 18.4 cents/gal, and has been since 1993. Adjusting for inflation, that means the federal government is collecting only 2/3 the tax revenue per gallon than when the rate was set in 1993. Meanwhile, the number of roads and drivers has increased.

However, what really damages the highways are semi trucks. Their huge weight does a disproportionate amount of damage to the highway system relative to passenger cars. I think the diesel taxes should be raised first. Sure, we'd all pay for it in the end as shipping companies raised their rates to cover the increased cost, but it would give shipping companies a greater incentive to improve efficiency.

Originally Posted by upsdude

as it is the revenue from the gas tax money gets raided to cover the general fund-else we'd have much better roads than what we have now. and judging by the incompetence from both parties of california's legislature nothing will be solved in the immediate future. for example: we have metro lines in the L.A. area no one takes you directly to the airport. maybe a mile or 2 short of it, so you still have to get a cab or something. talk about stupid.

personally i don't like the idea of a driving tax-they can't handle the money they get from us from all the other taxes, this will just be another revenue stream for some other b.s. and i don't like the idea of the govt tracking where i drive.