Drivers of electric cars may have left the gas pump behind, but there's one expense they may not be able to shake: paying to maintain the roads.Unintended consequences. This also explains why government will never ban smoking. Too much tax revenue coming in from smokers.
After years of urging residents to buy fuel-efficient cars and giving them tax breaks to do it, Washington state lawmakers are considering a measure to charge them a $100 annual fee — what would be the nation's first electric car fee.
State lawmakers grappling with a $5 billion deficit are facing declining gas tax revenue, which means less money to maintain or improve roads.
"Electric vehicles put just as much wear and tear on our roads as gas vehicles," said Democratic state Sen. Mary Margaret Haugen, the bill's lead sponsor. "This simply ensures that they contribute their fair share to the upkeep of our roads."
Other states are trying to find solutions to the same problem, as cars become more fuel-efficient and, now, don't use any gas at all.
Monday, April 25, 2011
What Happens When Cars Use Less Gas?
Their drivers must be punished:
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5 comments:
it does make some sense. gas tax as user fee for use of roads. don't use gas? we'll get it out of you one way or another.
is it fair?
probably so. unexpected? not if you understand the problem of less gas=less revenue.
Just increase the gas tax to compensate.
They'll do that ALSO.
I'm paying about $120 in gas every 2 weeks now. $100 a year road tax if i'm not paying for gas? TAKE IT!!!!
How much of the existing gas tax is actually used for road maintenance?
When I was in England, it was around 6% of the gas tax collected.
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