Opinion: Lawmaker opposes state mileage tax idea

By State Rep. Linda M. Gentile

HARTFORD - Recently, there has been a lot of talk about a mileage tax – the idea of taxing drivers based on the distance they drive their vehicles.  

Let me be clear. 

I am absolutely against any consideration of a mileage tax! 

Talk about the tax is a political ploy aimed at getting voters riled up.  

Leadership in both the House and Senate chambers of the General Assembly insist that they have no interest or plans to institute a mileage tax.  

Let me just say, I have no interest or plans to institute a mileage tax, as well.  

In fact, I believe it is a half-baked, crazy idea and I think using this idea as a political ploy to rile up voters is shameless!

Unnecessary burden 

I am against a mileage tax for many reasons. 

First and foremost, I believe it would be an unnecessary burden on motorists and taxpayers.  

It is unclear to me how such a tax would be implemented and it is certainly unclear how much it would cost to implement.  

I have heard suggestions of a tracking-type device being attached to cars to record the number of miles driven.  I firmly believe such a device would be an infringement on personal privacy.  

Furthermore, any device or computer chip attached to a vehicle could probably be circumvented or hacked, creating opportunity for vandalism and fraud.  

And, what if a motorist travels out of state for personal business or vacation? Would it be fair to tax the driver for miles driven on non-state roads? I don’t think so!  

I do not believe a mileage tax is fair nor do I think it should ever be considered as an option to raise funds for any transportation project!  

I want to assure you that I am absolutely not in favor of a mileage tax and I will work to defeat any attempt to implement any such proposal.  

Talk of mileage tax began last year when the Governor’s Transportation Finance Panel recommended studying its potential implementation.  

ConnDOT applied for a federal grant ($300,000) to pay for the study, joining with Vermont, Delaware, New Hampshire, and Pennsylvania.  

I did not support the idea then, and I most certainly do not support the idea now. 

DOT officials say the mileage tax could be an option to raise revenues. I think not!  

The mileage tax proposal is simply an idea that is under consideration by the state Department of Transportation as a means to raise funds to pay for the maintenance of our highways, roads and bridges.  

But it is nothing more than that - an idea. An idea that I can’t and simply won’t support.

Gentile represents Ansonia and Derby in the General Assembly. This column was sent by Gentile's office.