Taxed by the mile

Olympia is considering going from a per-gallon gas tax to a mileage-based calculation. Reason: hybrids and electric cars aren’t using sufficient fuel; the state is losing revenue. Some wonk wants us to pay based on how far we drive, not on how much gas we use. I’m 86 and don’t drive that much anymore. I’ll probably come out ahead.

But how will annual mileage be verified? When renewing tabs will we have to go to some emission-type facility or (heaven forbid) the DMV? That’s a whole new bureaucracy. If it’s on a self-reporting basis, what about the prevaricators who will submit less than honest figures?

Say I’m driving to New York and back (a round trip of 5,054 miles). It’s 27 miles from my house to the Idaho state line. Will Olympia charge me for 54 miles or for all 5,000 plus? And I’d be paying a gas tax in all those other states, which would be double taxation! Ditto for snowbirds.

And new cars? Will the state wait a year to find out their mileage and then collect? Suppose you crash and total the car before the first tab renewal? Are they going to kiss off all those miles? And all that money?

The solution is simple. Keep the current gas tax and charge a premium to those driving hybrids and electrics. Duh?

Frank Schoonover

Spokane