California Resorting To "Road Charge" To Offset Gasoline Tax Revenue Losses

Drivers would be taxed by the mile under a state "Road Charge" that could someday replace California's gas tax.

Caltrans is exploring the idea of a road charge to make up for declining fuel tax revenues.

As Californians buy more fuel-efficient vehicles and vehicles that don't use gas at all, Caltrans says gas tax revenues are becoming unsustainable for highway repairs.

Around 80% of highway and road repairs are funded by a tax on gasoline charged at the pump when you buy gas. The current gas tax is over 50 cents a gallon, with the average driver paying $280 each year.

atc98092 - 11/20/2020 3:09:53 PM

+3 Boost

It's probably the most fair way to contribute to the infrastructure, but I have reservations the the tax will calculated fairly. It's needs to be calculated by vehicle weight, number of axles, and probably a small reduction factor to encourage EV use.

PUGPROUD - 11/20/2020 3:24:08 PM

+1 Boost

The government will know how many miles you drive, how often you drive, what kind of car you drive, where you drive, when you drive, how fast you drive, etc...providing multiple means to control, tax, fine and sell data to third parties. The glorious freedom that cars provided my generation eventually be extinguished, sadly.

Vette71 - 11/20/2020 3:30:24 PM

+1 Boost

If they know where you drive will they deduct miles driven outside the state? That's always been the issue when this has been proposed before. Especially true in areas around state line or for smaller eastern states.

Agent009 - 11/20/2020 4:22:17 PM

+2 Boost

Oh they won't care about miles out of state that's a windfall. You could maybe skirt it by buying and registering over the state line.

What about people that drive into the state go everywhere and leave? Gas taxes covered them. I bet they will tax the heck out of the charging station kilowatt claiming to catch those too.

atc98092 - 11/20/2020 5:20:16 PM

+2 Boost

Big fine if they catch you registering your car out of state here in WA. But the potential of adding a tax to EV charging stations also concerns me. If I'm paying a road tax based on miles driven, they have no reason to add a tax to charging stations. Since I currently charge my PHEV almost exclusively at home, it's likely not something that would impact me much. For for people that depend on public charging (live in apartments, no off-street parking, road warriors) that might be something significant.

PUGPROUD - 11/20/2020 6:41:06 PM

+1 Boost

States like California see unlimited potential to tax car owners in multiple ways to make up for budget shortfalls and reckless spending. With the conversion to EV's its only just begun. Its what liberal governments do. In NY for example the number of taxes and surcharges actually exceed the cost of the water on my water bill. In my little village the police has stopped ticketing people for crossing over double yellow lines because of the mandated $180 fine all but $12 has to be sent to the state government. Not worth their time to ticket anyone.

Section_31_JTK - 11/20/2020 7:37:44 PM

+1 Boost

This is yet another soak the public scheme by the out control dhimocraps that run the People's Republic of Kalifornia. It's no different than the idiot Newsome telling everyone we should stay home and wear a mask, while he parties it up with his cronies at the Michelin starred French Laundry. Liberals are a disease on this planet.

dlin - 11/22/2020 12:56:31 PM

+1 Boost

Better also charge by pound for the damage on roads !