Figure motorists’ road tax during smog inspections

Henry Schmid, Las Vegas

Wednesday, Aug. 3, 2011 | 2 a.m.

A road tax, using GPS or the reporting of mileage driven either by the owner to the Department of Motor Vehicles or by an automatic system from the pump, represents overkill.

Instead, at the time of the annual smog inspection, when the mileage driven is recorded and sent to DMV, the DMV could then bill for a road tax based on the miles driven and the weight of the vehicle. Out-of-state vehicles could be identified and still billed a fuel tax from the ZIP code entered at the pump when using a credit card, or showing a driver’s license when making a cash purchase.

We don’t need the added overhead costs of GPS or a pump information system or depend on the honesty of the owner reporting the mileage. Electric cars could be required annually to also use the smog inspection facilities to report their mileage used.

Implementation of a mileage tax would require a credit for the fuel tax spent until such time this tax is phased out, using average fuel mileage for that particular vehicle and prorated for the time a dual tax is incurred.