Two Idaho Neighbors Consider Electric Car Mileage Tax

Why not just put a chip under your skin? Then government can track you whenever it needs your whereabouts. You may recall a few weeks ago I wrote about a test project for a mileage tax. It was buried in the 1.2 trillion dollar spending plan passed by the U.S. Senate. Idaho’s two Republican Senators were among 19 GOP members of the upper chamber who voted with majority Democrats.

I saw a lot of objections from civil libertarians. They believe government already knows too much about your travels.

In the latest twist in mileage taxes, Utah and Oregon are considering having volunteers be metered while driving. This would apply (initially) to electric vehicles. Currently, a Tesla doesn’t pay gasoline taxes. According to this link, it’s causing a drop in revenue in two neighboring states. I’m surprised there are that many EVs on the road in those places. Or perhaps governments are simply projecting revenue loses into the future.

When I posted the story to my personal Facebook page, I saw a lot of objections from civil libertarians. They believe government already knows too much about your travels. Your smartphone pings towers all along highways you travel. Stop and use a debit card for coffee and you leave behind an electronic trail. Tracking EVs only adds to your ever growing digital footprint.

Cheer up, though. The Democrats latest spending binge will almost double your credit for buying an EV, which is currently at $7,500. If the rebate is more important than privacy, then have at it!

Even with the discount, most Americans can’t afford many electric models. I guess we’ll just have to take up walking or riding horseback. Like our predecessors did.

LOOK: See the iconic cars that debuted the year you were born

LOOK: Things from the year you were born that don't exist anymore

The iconic (and at times silly) toys, technologies, and electronics have been usurped since their grand entrance, either by advances in technology or breakthroughs in common sense. See how many things on this list trigger childhood memories—and which ones were here and gone so fast you missed them entirely.

LOOK: The most expensive weather and climate disasters in recent decades

Stacker ranked the most expensive climate disasters by the billions since 1980 by the total cost of all damages, adjusted for inflation, based on 2021 data from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA). The list starts with Hurricane Sally, which caused $7.3 billion in damages in 2020, and ends with a devastating 2005 hurricane that caused $170 billion in damage and killed at least 1,833 people. Keep reading to discover the 50 of the most expensive climate disasters in recent decades in the U.S.