On the privacy note, anybody who has a vehicle equipped with OnStar, already has the GPS, recording monitor and the transmission mode installed. All OnStar autos have the ability to eavesdrop on any conversation(with the added convenience of knowing exactly where you are) at any time. Oddly enough, all cell phones manufactured in the past five years can do the same thing, whether you have it on or not.

Something I have not seen anywhere is the idea to apply time of day to the collection of data, or even the weight of the vehicles. Believe it or not the computer which controls the engine already knows this.

Increasing the gasoline tax capitalizes on a revenue generating system that is already fully in place. It is anonymous and doesn’t infringe on personal privacy, and isn’t prone to individual tampering. It rewards those who drive fuel efficient vehicles and practice sensible vehicle operating practices, such as minimizing idling. Reductions in fuel consumption translate directly into cleaner air and reduced carbon emissions.

However, in the long run if we are serious about ramping down our gasoline use — and I hope we are — by boosting vehicle efficiency and shifting to alternative energy sources for transportation, this policy tool will be very helpful for achieving those goals.

That said, I don’t see the big advantage of the VMT. It seems to me that the most sensible transportation funding solution would combine congestion pricing schemes with a considerably higher gas tax. The basic policy outlined in this post - reduce traffic, manage it, and only then increase capacity - is very intelligent. I just don’t see how a VMT helps to achieve this goal any more than gas taxes and congestion pricing. The VMT isn’t exactly a horrible idea, and, yes, the privacy concerns could likely be worked through. It just seems superfluous.

I don’t understand why the argument that this is good local policy isn’t an additional reason for considering it statewide and nationally.

I also assume none of those concerned about privacy carry a cell phone or Blackberry, which compromises privacy vis-a-vis location much, much more than a mileage-reading device in your car.

Why build a sophisticated tracking system to monitor where and when drivers are driving on highways, and then go to great lengths to protect the privacy of the data? And then go to greater lengths to account for and encourange fuel efficiency?

Taxing a gallon of gas does all this without sattelites or cameras. Drive a mile, consume a mile’s worth of gas. If you use fewer gallons per mile, then you pay less tax. Once you drive away from the pump nobody knows where you go.

Congestion pricing on urban streets is different than a national VMT and is a smart local (not federal) decision. I wish Mayor Mike had a used bit more political savvy than when he tried to bulldoze the plan through NY.