[Schurkey]

U.S. Rep. Earl Blumenauer, D-Ore, introduced H.R. 3311 to Congress in July. The bill calls for the funding of a $150 million-plus study of a Vehicle Miles Traveled (VMT) fee, to ultimately replace the current consumption-based gas tax. The VMT system would require the installation of a GPS transponder in all vehicles. Under the program, when a motorist pulls up to the gas pump, information about when and where the vehicle traveled would be downloaded to the pump. The mileage tax would then be computed and added to the per gallon cost of the gas. In theory, the tax could be increased for travel during peak periods or in areas of higher traffic congestion. Traffic management by Big Brother.




This bill SHOULD be considered a slap in the face to the Fourth Amendment of the Constitution.

U.S. Rep. Earl Blumenauer clearly does not care about FREEDOM; he's asking for unlimited surveillance by the Federal Government of our motor vehicles; and by extension our private lives. He should be ashamed of himself. This is Un-American.

Clearly, this is the "foot in the door" for traffic tickets via GPS: They know your position--and they have stop watches. Therefore they know your speed, whether you stopped or yielded at traffic signals; how many hours you've been driving. Add some computerized wizardry, and the tickets get sent to the registered owner of the vehicle. MASSIVE REVENUE GENERATION at the expense of our privacy.

We are becoming cows--owned by the Government and milked for all we're worth.

If you live in Oregon, you need to put a leash on this guy.