Get out your calculator

Mr. Sentman is correct (Letters, April 24). Hybrid cars do use the roads that must be maintained, and they do contribute less tax per mile than other cars. I drive a hybrid, so I appreciate the difference.

Assessing a special tax to make up for what I don’t pay in fuel tax is logical, but it isn’t a complete equation. My other vehicle is one of those SUVs that doesn’t get such good mileage, so I think in good conscience I need to get a reduction in my license fees for that one since I’m actually paying more gasoline tax per mile than average. Those folks who drive Hummers probably should be able to get them licensed for free based on their tax burden at the pump!

Roads deteriorate due to time and weather, too, so we should also compute fairness for the proverbial little old lady who only drives to church versus the vehicles that are on the road every day. Oh, and what about vehicle weight? Heavy vehicles cause more wear than light ones don’t they? How complicated should this be?

David Lobdell

Spokane