Details here: http://www.thetruthaboutcars.com/2015/03/oregon-first-nation-implement-per-mile-road-tax-program/
If it is a plug in reading, they may have problems with older OBDI or earlier cars. That aside, such a tax also assumes that all of the miles being taxed were done on public roads. Granted, for most people, that will be true, but there are probably some people that spend time putting miles on their rides doing farm work or off-road.
I'd think a GPS tracker that can tally up on-road miles would be an elegant solution if it only stored aggregate mileage data and isn't used as a tracking device, but that's only theoretically possible, I can't imagine it happening in the real world.
Non-OBDII cars could simply do an annual odometer inspection.
GameboyRMH wrote: I'd think a GPS tracker that can tally up on-road miles would be an elegant solution if it only stored aggregate mileage data and isn't used as a tracking device, but that's only theoretically possible, I can't imagine it happening in the real world.
I'm interested to know the backlash in Oregon over this.....especially since they're typically of the same mind as their pants and hat. 
Keith Tanner wrote: Non-OBDII cars could simply do an annual odometer inspection.
Provided the odometer worked. E30s are notorious for this.
If they are doing per mile road tax, they might as well have it pro-rated against the vehicles weight as well.
A 1600lb car does not do nearly the damage to the road a 16klb dually/travel trailer combo does.
Keith Tanner wrote: Non-OBDII cars could simply do an annual odometer inspection.
And then people unplug the speed sensor on their car. No speedo but no odometer either. Just show it works for some test and then unplug. My 97 240sx had an issue where the speed sensor read double after an sr swap so I just unplugged it until I got the right one. No miles racked up and the computer didn't store true mileage on those years.
Not to mention all the old cars with a plastic gear in the cluster you could pop in and out quickly. Not saying its right but I'm just not sure how you could enforce something like that.
In reply to crankwalk:
Or in some cases where you still want the speedometer......just replace the entire cluster for most of the year. I added a cluster with a tachometer to my 4cyl s10 and discovered that it retained mileage in the cluster(digital odo) and not the ecu. It took me 4 weeks to figure out how to cannibalize the stock odometer to fit in the new cluster. 
Interesting.
Edit:
$0.015/mile isn't terrible. Its on par with the state + federal fuel tax of $0.4947/gallon, assuming you get decent mileage.
WA is looking at this too. My beef with it (among many others) is this: I live in WA, but do 75% of my driving in Idaho. They better figure out a way to only charge me for my WA miles -- and I won't have a GPS unit installed on my car...
If you really want to make this work, employers need to play a part as well. Some companies locate businesses so far away from residential areas that almost all of the employees are forced to drive a ridiculous amount of miles for their commute, and in some cases buying a home closer to those employers may be difficult for those employed. An example might be a warehouse that pays lower wages but is surrounded by high-rent and expensive home prices, forcing workers to commute, lowering their real wages.
As a native Oregonian, I'd say that for myself that is probably one of the dumbest ideas on the face of the planet.
This is a way to increase the overhead costs while trying to avoid actually raising the gas tax (which is one of the lowest in the country).
Here's some interesting reading:
http://blog.oregonlive.com/myoregon/2015/02/orego_proposal.html
Lots of stories over the past few years over infrastructure issues, road taxes, etc.
Also Portland (that bastion of bad government ideas) has been trying to force a "street fee" down our throats for the last 18 months or so. They Mayor and his cronies call it a "fee" to avoid making it a tax which would automatically put it up for a vote. Of course there are enough smart people left in Portland who looked at the fee and raised their hands about what a load of crap that really is.
Meanwhile, one of the Portland City council people lost their husband to a crossover crash on the I5 corridor in an area that had been marked for cable barriers and a retired highway engineer had actually asked ODOT, the Governor, etc numerous times to add the cable barrier. Needless to say within a week or two of the crash, the cable barrier was installed.
Basically some people are waking up to how bloated and inefficient their elected governments are and are trying to push back to get what they pay for in taxes.
You are high if you think this will impact employers in any way.
Commuters are already paying high commuting costs and gas tax. This will only impact those getting >30mpg average, and even then only marginally.
ProDarwin wrote: Interesting. Edit: $0.015/mile isn't terrible. Its on par with the state + federal fuel tax of $0.4947/gallon, assuming you get decent mileage.
Think long term about what you could do with this information.
You could:
Raise the rate while traveling through high congestion areas
Raise the rate during peak travel times.
Holiday? oh. yeah the rate will go up.
I do like the idea of paying more based on weight, but that already happens to some extent with the existing fuel tax as the larger vehicles use more fuel and therefore pay more.
The real solution is to raise both the fuel tax (which hasn't been raised in decades) as well as the registration fees (to help the electric vehicles pay their share).
That said, this will also impact electric vehicles and will guarantee a revenue source as fossil fuel usage lowers.
Colorado registration charges are based on weight. Since my vehicles range from 1200 lbs to 7700 lbs, I notice this
Obviously, reading the odometer isn't infallible. Neither is an OBD-II plug-in, with basically the same workarounds. But it's a good 95% option.
Does this mean they're going to fine you if your odometer doesn't work?
http://www.oregonlive.com/commuting/index.ssf/2015/02/oregon_mileage_tax_orego_websi.html
Make sure to read the comments with a cold beverage of choice. I'll let you guess how quickly it turns into a Blue vs Red debate.
HiTempguy wrote: If they are doing per mile road tax, they might as well have it pro-rated against the vehicles weight as well. A 1600lb car does not do nearly the damage to the road a 16klb dually/travel trailer combo does.
Well now you've pointed out the elephant in the room - that every country's road tax system amounts to a massive subsidy to the trucking industry. Big rigs do nearly all the road damage and don't pay road taxes that come anywhere close to reflecting that.
GameboyRMH wrote:HiTempguy wrote: If they are doing per mile road tax, they might as well have it pro-rated against the vehicles weight as well. A 1600lb car does not do nearly the damage to the road a 16klb dually/travel trailer combo does.Well now you've pointed out the elephant in the room - that every country's road tax system amounts to a massive subsidy to the trucking industry. Big rigs do nearly all the road damage and don't pay road taxes that come anywhere close to reflecting that.
Same with the local mass transit folks. Their buses absolutely decimate the local roads, but they are so subsidized that they help in anyway to resolve the issues they create. Utter BS if you ask me.
Then again, if the buses and truck had their subsidy's removed the company's that run them would simply increase the costs to the customers while keeping their profits the same (or higher).
yamaha wrote: In reply to crankwalk: Or in some cases where you still want the speedometer......just replace the entire cluster for most of the year...
I think you guys are missing the real point of this legislation:
They are implementing a system that rewards people who know how to mess with their cars!
In reply to aircooled:
Isn't it illegal to alter your vehicles odometer?
Be responsible buy more efficient cars! We'll give you incentives.
Be even more eco friendly and buy electric! We'll give you even more incentives!
Then: go go magic CAFE standards.
E36 M3 we can't fix the roads because we're selling less gas!
Talk about shooting yourself in the foot then doubling down by blowing off the other one too. As mentioned something is going to need to be done and soon, but lawmakers really need to have an actual study done, you know the sciencey kind that isn't a complete political hack job, to make a well reasoned decision on how to fix the problem.
...I hope everyone has stock in gravel tires then.
Just one more reason to leave the state. Not going to let a GPS be put in my cars no sir.
Will wrote: Does this mean they're going to fine you if your odometer doesn't work?
they used to be able to fail you at inspection here in NJ.. but now all they worry about is emissions
PHeller wrote: If you really want to make this work, employers need to play a part as well. Some companies locate businesses so far away from residential areas that almost all of the employees are forced to drive a ridiculous amount of miles for their commute, and in some cases buying a home closer to those employers may be difficult for those employed. An example might be a warehouse that pays lower wages but is surrounded by high-rent and expensive home prices, forcing workers to commute, lowering their real wages.
Thats where I am. Work is surrounded by housing thats 6-10 times more than where I live. So its a 35 mile a day round trip. yes, some folks have it worse.
Work where you can find it, live where you can afford it.
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