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Re: Government Driving Restrictions



While I'm not a fan of government control in general, I'm going to
make a few comments about this


In article <3uj0u0$9l3@newsbf02.news.aol.com>, CVC411 <cvc411@aol.com> wrote:

>is due to deliver policy options to the President in late September, but
>you have an opportunity now to let your government know what you think of
>these policies before the package is put into final form.  Here are some
>examples of the policies this committee is considering:
>
>•	Road Use Pricing:  New taxes on motorists and businesses based on
>how much they use public streets and highways.
>
Fine, makes sense.  As is everyone pays equally for the roads regardless
of how much they use them.  Wouldn't you feel it was unfair if you
rarely drive, or always use public transportation, but had to pay the
same as someone who drives 30,000 miles a year


>•	Congestion Pricing: additional taxes for use of highways during
>peak rush-hours.
>
Again, OK.  You pay more for long-distance phone calls during peak hours.
You pay more for the Metro during peak hours (at least in DC).  The
only concern here is that employers allow employees to work nontraditional
hours, so they can avoid this if they want.

>•	VMT-Based Registration Fees: registration fees based on Vehicle
>Miles Traveled -- how much a particular vehicle is driven.  (The more you
>drive, the higher the fee.)

Isn't this the same as the Road Use Pricing?  Although the first makes
more sense, as you can put miles on a car on non public roads (but
the first is harder to implement)
>
>•	Parking Charges: Requiring employers , merchants and other
>business owners to charge market prices for all parking they provide.  (No
>more free parking at McDonald’s or the supermarket.)
>
A bit abnoxious, especially as the rent that the business pays for that
parking area is already passed on to us, just like all overhead costs.

>•	Increase CAFE Standards: Raise government fuel economy
>requirements for passenger cars to 45 mile per gallon and 34 mpg for
>pickups, vans, minivans and sport utility vehicles.  Absent any technology
>breakthroughs, the government would be forcing consumers into much
>smaller, less safe vehicles with reduced performance.  Most models would
>have to come without popular options such as air conditioning and
>four-wheel drive.
>
Can't say I like this much.

>•	Gas Guzzler “Feebates”:  The government already imposes gas
>guzzler taxes on cars with ratings below 22.5 mpg (as high as $7,700 per
>car).  The “Feebate Gas Guzzler” scheme would extend those taxes to
>popular mid-size vehicles (up to 28 mpg), and then use that money to
>subsidize consumers who buy smaller high-mileage cars.  Many popular
>models such as the Dodge Intrepid, Ford Taurus, Chevy Lumina and even
>entire car lines like Volvo and Audi would be subject to these new gas
>guzzler taxes.

Don't like this either
>
>•	Higher Gas Taxes: no explanation necessary.
>
Well, as many people have pointed out, we have the lowest gas prices
in the world (just remember, it's cheaper than milk)
But I still don't think they should raise it.  (like I need something
else to make grad school hard to afford)

>•	Employer Trip Reduction Programs:  Requirement for businesses to
>get more of their employees to car pool and or use mass transit.  This is
>the same scheme contained in the 1990 amendments to the Clean Air Act that
>has already been widely rejected by affected metropolitan areas and has
>led EPA to back off on enforcing the rule.

This is really an unrealistic demand on employers.  It's not really an
employers business how an employee get to work, as long as they get there.
>
>•	Mortgage Rate Disincentives:  The further you live from downtown,
>the higher your mortgage interest rate.

Unfair and arbitrary, especially considering the number of businesses
in the suburbs
>
>All of the above policy options are designed to get consumers into
>smaller, less safe vehicles and to use them less than they otherwise
>would.  

Well, designed is probably the wrong word.  And there's plenty of
small cars that _don't_ meet these guidelines.  Like most sports cars.
Of course those tend to be fairly safe, though.


My $.02

Kevin Scaldeferri





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