California Insider

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Sacramento Bee Columnist Daniel Weintraub

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November 16, 2004

New ideas from DMV director

Joan Borucki, Schwarzenegger's nominee to head the DMV, has advocated tracking motorists with GPS devices so that the state can charge for the use of roads by the mile rather than through the gasoline tax, the LA Times reports (registration required). The gas tax, because it is charged by the gallon, has been shrinking, relatively, as cars become more fuel efficient, even as the mileage driven on state roads continues to climb. The tracking devices Borucki favors could also be used to implement congestion pricing, which charges motorists more at peak hours to alleviate back-ups. I am a fan of congestion pricing but would be wary of placing government trackers on every car, given privacy concerns. Still, I think it's great the governor is promoting people who have new ways of looking at old problems.