Date:         Mon, 2 Aug 2004 21:34:19 -0400
Reply-To:     Jonathan Farrugia <jfarrugi@UMICH.EDU>
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:         Jonathan Farrugia <jfarrugi@UMICH.EDU>
Subject:      Re: vanagons days numbered?
Comments: To: "Brian T." <nobleman36@YAHOO.COM>
In-Reply-To:  <20040803001948.17468.qmail@web60504.mail.yahoo.com>
Content-Type: TEXT/PLAIN; charset=US-ASCII

a system like this is already employed in singapore.  it uses the same
technology as those toll boths that let you automatically pass through
because you have a transmitter in your car.  speeding tickets are also
automatically issued by this system.

that said i do take issue with one thing in the reading that all vehicles
produce the same effects on the road system.

"But few cars are average. A 2004 Honda Civic that gets 36 miles to the
gallon would pay more tax than today; a 2004 Range Rover that gets 12
would pay less.

Treating them the same is fair, Whitty argues. Each vehicle uses up about
the same amount of space on the highway, he says, and there's little
difference in the wear and tear they inflict on roads. "

thats a load of crap those academic types should take a trip to michigan
where we have the worst roads in the country.  why you ask, because we
allow 8 axle semi-trailers and the heaviest allowable truck payloads in
the country.  pretty soon they will be telling me that a motor cycle
produces as much wear on the roads as a full size work van or suv.  surely
my vanagon produces more wear on the roads than my little speed racer
scirocco.  it seems that they would need to make classes of vehicles with
different tax per mile driven costs.

jonathan

On Mon, 2 Aug 2004, Brian T. wrote:

> I don't like to play politics, however this could
> adversely impact our choice to drive these aging
> German boxcars we love so much.
>
> http://www.caltax.org/member/digest/apr2001/apr01-07.htm
>
> http://www.odot.state.or.us/ruftf/pdfs/FinalReport2003march/FinalReportAA2003march.pdf
>
> http://prisonplanet.com/articles/july2004/070504mileagetax.htm
>