California DMV chief wants to track all drivers with GPS bugs [priv]

[Declan McCullagh <declan () well com>]

It's not just California. See:

"U.K. plans to track all drivers with GPS, charge fees"
http://www.politechbot.com/p-03178.html

And what has been discussed in Oregon:
http://www.odot.state.or.us/ruftf/pdfs/VMTPreferred_Scenario_Nov1502.pdf

-Declan


-------- Original Message --------
Subject: [Politech] California DMV Chief Wants Tracking Devices in All Cars
Date: Wed, 17 Nov 2004 12:54:31 -0500
From: Stephanie <sjwinters3 () hotmail com>
To: Declan McCullagh <declan () well com>

Declan, for Politech if you wish:

http://www.latimes.com/news/local/la-me-dmv16nov16,0,5985536.story?coll=la-home-local

November 16, 2004

DMV Chief Backs Tax by Mile
New appointee has advocated a levy based on how much and where motorists
drive. Idea is gaining support, but privacy advocates worry.

By Robert Salladay, Times Staff Writer

SACRAMENTO - Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger on Monday appointed a new 
Department of Motor Vehicles director who has advocated taxing motorists 
for every mile they drive - by placing tracking devices in their cars.

The idea would mean a significant overhaul of how California collects 
taxes to maintain its often-crumbling roads. Under the plan, the state 
gas tax - now 18 cents a gallon - would be replaced with a tax on every 
mile traveled by each car and truck.

The notion has not been endorsed by Schwarzenegger but is gaining 
acceptance among transportation and budget experts. As Californians 
drive increasingly more fuel-efficient cars, state officials are alarmed 
that the gasoline tax will not raise enough money to keep up with road 
needs.

[...]

Privacy advocates worry about the government tracking the whereabouts of
every car in California. In one scenario - currently being tested in
Oregon - tracking devices send a signal to a GPS satellite following the
car, and that information would be used to calculate the tax bill. Other
devices send a signal directly from the car to the pump, which 
calculates the tax based on the odometer reading.

[...]
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