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0 of 3 Premium Clicks used this month SUBSCRIBE Print + Online Subscriber Activation | Register x Forgot Password | Need an Account? subscribe | newsletter | deals Classifieds Jobs Autos Real Estate FEATURED » NEWS NOW Herb Rothschild Jr.: Missing Jon Stewart ... Ticket Availability ... SOU childcare center will reopen ... Herb Rothschild Jr.: Missing Jon Stewart ... Ticket Availability ... SOU childcare center will reopen ... OUR VIEW Our View: Paying by the mile Comment DailyTidings.com Writer Posted May. 29, 2015 at 12:01 AM Posted May. 29, 2015 at 12:01 AM » Social News A pilot program to test taxing motorists by the mile launching July 1 could prove to be the solution to building and maintaining roads even as gasoline consumption drops. The program has its pros and cons, but some alternative to the traditional per-gallon gas tax must be found. Once again, Oregon finds itself in the forefront of a new approach. Under the test program, up to 5,000 volunteers will have their vehicles equipped with a device that records the miles they drive. The volunteers can choose a GPS device that also records where they drive or a device without GPS. The volunteers will agree to pay 1.5 cents per mile driven on public roads within the state instead of the per-gallon gas tax paid at the pump. If they buy gas, the state will compensate them for taxes paid at the pump, or bill them it they don't purchase fuel.  The tricky part of this test is figuring out how to not charge drivers for miles traveled out of state or on private property without intruding on privacy by monitoring where people go. Eventually, as more states and eventually the federal government shift away from the gas tax, tracking where people drive shouldn't be necessary. Until then, privacy should be protected; the state should erase any GPS data collected. Electric-vehicle owners complain they're being singled out, and they're right, to a point. But they do need to pay their fair share. It's in everyone's interest to maintain the roads we all use. DailyTidings.com Writer Posted May. 29, 2015 at 12:01 AM » Comment or view comments Reader Reaction » STAY INFORMED Email NewsLetter Sign Up Today Sign up for our newsletter and have the top headlines from your community delivered right to your inbox. Southern Oregon Directory Featured Businesses Loading... Business Name address Location, ST | website.com Find Southern Oregon Attractions Bars Restaurants Beauty Salons Entertainment Doctors Medical Specialists Contractors Education Lawn Services Lawyers Shopping Travel Tanning Used Cars Wedding Services ▼ Add your business here + Events Calendar Connect with DailyTidings.com Facebook Twitter RSS Back to top Reader Services Reader Services home Subscriptions Subscriber controls Contact us Submissions Photos Events Letters to the editor Corrections Alerts Email alerts RSS feeds Text Alerts Advertise Media Kit Home Products and services Ad rates Advertising contacts Propel Marketing Mail Tribune Daily Tidings The Nickel Shop Our Valley Blogs Mobile Site Stay Informed Email newsletter Sign Up Today Sign up for our newsletter and have the top headlines from your community delivered right to your inbox. Your privacy is important, read our privacy policy. © Copyright 2015 Local Media Group, Inc. All Rights Reserved. Privacy Policy | Terms of Service | Local Media Group Publications Original content available for non-commercial use under a Creative Commons license, except where noted. DailyTidings.com | P.O. Box 1108, Medford, OR 97501