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gov't recommendation to put GPS trackers in all cars & trucks

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  • kingofwylietx

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    Feb 29, 2008
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    The below link takes you to a story about the National Hwy fund falling short on revenue.

    The real story is the last paragraph about a panels recommendation for the government to put GPS tracking devices in all cars & trucks. It would allow them to bill you for actual miles driven..........and, of course, keep track of you.

    I guess, if they do that, they could monitor your speed & just send you a speeding ticket too.

    Where did I put my tinfoil hat?

    Administration: Highway fund to go broke in August - Yahoo! News
    Target Sports
     

    cog41

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    May 21, 2009
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    Should come as no shock to anyone.
    Especially with the Great O wanting to tax you for the miles you drive.

     

    Rocket_Cowboy

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    Washington State was one of the areas that piloted this project, IIRC.

    The interesting thing here is that they claim the gas tax isn't bringing in enough revenue to pay for road work, because cars are more fuel efficient. The new tax would level the playing field, so that the Prius driver pays the same per mile as the 1-ton pickup truck and the motorcycle.

    Supposedly, by being GPS based, your local state would charge you just for the miles you drove in that state ... thus why a simple odometer reading isn't used. How they access that GPS data, and more importantly who has access to that data, I haven't seen articulated.
     

    cuate

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    GPS Trackers

    There has never been a device that good ole country boys can't figure out how to wire around it or defeat it. Sort of like radar detectors and radar jammers.

    Politicians always dreaming up how to bilk more money from the population, some in the Metroplex wanted to add gasoline tax to build roads in their areas.
     

    Big country

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    I haven't read the article but. Who cares why they want to do it it is wrong and they can F off I wont put that shit on my vehicle. I would like to nominate my self for president of Texas one more time.
     

    M. Sage

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    Hmm. On the one hand, it's an idiotic idea that I think should die (just like when California suggested it).

    On the other hand, it's a great idea that could earn me tons of money disabling GPS transmitters in folks' cars (just like when California suggested it).

    I'm kind of torn...

    BTW, CA's idea evolved, so watch for this one to do the same. CA wanted to put a "Fastrak" toll transceiver in every car to keep track of miles driven. They actually built a large part of the network and tested it on unsuspecting Fastrak customers! http://www.interesting-people.org/archives/interesting-people/200208/msg00045.html
     

    Rocket_Cowboy

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    MadMo44Mag

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    I read this post yesterday and took time to think about it. (that is a scary subject there)
    Anyway let me throw some fodder on the fire.
    The upside:
    1) we all pay the same towards our road funds vs taxed gas and more fuel efficient cars paying less by today's system.
    2) the cost per gallon of gas is reduce because you are taxed on the actual miles you drive not the gallon of gas purchased.
    3) insurance rates could be lowered because now stolen cars can easily be traced and recovered -
    3A) in addition reform could be enacted to lower rates based on the actual miles driven
    4) no need for toll tags any more

    The downside:
    1) Big brother knows where you are at and when

    I am sure there are more pros and cons but overall the pro's outweigh the con's

    If you are not breaking the law why are we worried about the state or fed knowing our whereabouts?

    Don't get me wrong, I don't like it but if it would have a positive reduction in my overall budget then I am less opposed to the idea.

    Also if I have a need to be somewhere undetected there are ways around the GPS issue.
     

    M. Sage

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    I read this post yesterday and took time to think about it. (that is a scary subject there)
    Anyway let me throw some fodder on the fire.
    The upside:
    1) we all pay the same towards our road funds vs taxed gas and more fuel efficient cars paying less by today's system.
    2) the cost per gallon of gas is reduce because you are taxed on the actual miles you drive not the gallon of gas purchased.
    3) insurance rates could be lowered because now stolen cars can easily be traced and recovered -
    3A) in addition reform could be enacted to lower rates based on the actual miles driven
    4) no need for toll tags any more

    I've got some water for that fire.

    1: More fuel efficient cars should usually pay less road tax anyway. They're generally lighter and put a lot less wear on the roads. You can't tell me it's fair for me to pay the same road tax over 5000 miles on my motorcycle (that's about 100 gallons for me) as it is for someone with an F350 who hauls a heavy trailer the same distance. Sorry, but guess which one causes more wear and tear.

    2: Yeah, right. The government always happily does away with taxes... Ain't gonna happen. You'll get gasoline tax and this new one.

    3: Erm, no. I can't imagine it being that hard to disable a system like this. If you know where the antenna is, it's over in seconds. There are far better security methods on the market, and even they don't work.

    4: Don't have toll tags anyway.. not about to get any, either.

    If you are not breaking the law why are we worried about the state or fed knowing our whereabouts?

    Who says I'm worried about them being able to track me? I just don't like them being able to. Something about that pesky 5th Amendment...

    I'm not doing anything illegal, nor am I "scared" per se. But I see the potential for abuse, and won't stand for making it easier for them in the future.
     

    JKTex

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    Mar 11, 2008
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    One thing to throw out here to think about.

    Think about the logistics of tracking, keeping records, billing, auto transfers etc. as well as the expense and size of the entity to do so.

    How far do you think an idea like this will fly???
     

    Jeff B

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    May 28, 2008
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    I'll add my two bits here...

    The trucking industry is required to report their state miles and fuel purchased. Most companies use manual driver written sheets, with fuel receipts. Inaccurate as hell. Completely fixable through the use of several systems. (I work in this area) but the government has not seen fit to require or even encourage (through tax incentives) these solutions.

    How then, do you think the government will be able to mandate the use of GPS in every car to determine your actual mileage. Remember now, using a GPS does not report where you were, most GPS units are receivers which do not transmit or gather data. Whatever would go in cars would either have to be a two way system or a recorder that you would plug into a gathering system to accumulate your information.

    Now, if the will was there, the OBD system could report mileage at specific intervals (ignition on/off) and fairly easily be connected to a GPS gathering/reporting system, but, who will pay for this? Many commercial fleets dont feel they canafford these systems, despite the detection of unauthorized use, excessive stop time, speeding, etc...

    Or, is this another thing for us to swallow "for the good of us all" and bury in the cost of registration or buying a new car?

    Jeff B.
     

    TSU45

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    I'll add my two bits here...

    The trucking industry is required to report their state miles and fuel purchased. Most companies use manual driver written sheets, with fuel receipts. Inaccurate as hell. Completely fixable through the use of several systems. (I work in this area) but the government has not seen fit to require or even encourage (through tax incentives) these solutions.

    How then, do you think the government will be able to mandate the use of GPS in every car to determine your actual mileage. Remember now, using a GPS does not report where you were, most GPS units are receivers which do not transmit or gather data. Whatever would go in cars would either have to be a two way system or a recorder that you would plug into a gathering system to accumulate your information.

    Now, if the will was there, the OBD system could report mileage at specific intervals (ignition on/off) and fairly easily be connected to a GPS gathering/reporting system, but, who will pay for this? Many commercial fleets dont feel they canafford these systems, despite the detection of unauthorized use, excessive stop time, speeding, etc...

    Or, is this another thing for us to swallow "for the good of us all" and bury in the cost of registration or buying a new car?

    Jeff B.




    ETA: Nevermind. I think you were talking about stand alone GPS units.
     
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