Before even discussing an invasive and unnecessary vehicle
miles-traveled tax, it would be helpful to remember we already pay other taxes
and fees to fund transportation infrastructure.
State and federal taxes on gasoline and diesel fuel were
created specifically to fund roads and bridges. We also pay a local car excise
tax and a 12 percent federal excise tax on the first retail sale of commercial
vehicles, all intended for roads. That excise tax increases the price we pay
for products, almost all of which are delivered by truck.
Larger trucks are charged various taxes and fees including
“apportioned” plate fees, and fees for carrying loads above maximum levels.
These too are passed on to the costs we pay for the products we buy.
On top of all this we pay tolls, state and federal income
taxes, and local real estate taxes, all of which contribute to funding
maintenance and repairs of roads and bridges. With all of these revenue sources
already in place, having government tracking our travel is unnecessary and, I
believe, an invasion of privacy those in power could conceivably use for
unethical purposes.
Funding road repairs with fuel taxes is far more efficient
and economical than a vehicle miles-traveled tax. No additional programs or
bureaucracies are needed; we pay at the pump and gas stations pay the taxes.
This also provides an incentive to buy more fuel-efficient vehicles and
eliminate unnecessary trips, encouraging conservation.
More to the point, just about all wear and tear on roads is
caused by heavy trucks, not cars, so it’s simply more fair and appropriate to
have their use pay for the repairs. The heavier they are, and the more miles
they drive, the more fuel they will burn and pay taxes on.
Massachusetts spends four times the national average on its
roadways but our roads are rated among the nation’s worst, according to 2012
rankings by Reason Foundation. The best course of action is to find the waste
and inefficiencies in our current system and use the savings for more repairs
before even considering a new tax.
