The push for more fuel efficient vehicles is costing the state billions in gas tax dollars. The money is used to maintain roads and bridges. Transportation officials are considering a ‘pay by the mile’ plan to make up for the lost tax dollars.

Floridians are buying less gas and paying fewer taxes at the pump. The transition to more fuel efficient vehicles is costing the state billions of tax dollars. A national plan to make up the difference by charging a mileage tax is being driven by transportation officials. In order to charge by the mile, the government would have to keep track of how much driving you do. The plan would require every vehicle to be equipped with a tracking device in order to keep up with the miles you have driven.” The mileage information would be downloaded every time you fill up. Brad Ashwell of Florida PIRG, a consumer advocacy group, says the plan sounds invasive.  “I think a lot of people would be suspicious of that and I think there would be a lot of questions and I think rightfully so.”

Environmentalists say the pay by the mile plan would water down the cash incentive of owning a fuel efficient vehicle. Eric Draper is with Audubon of Florida.  “The solution should be trying to get more people to share rides and move their cars together or drive more fuel efficient vehicles, not just build more roads for more gas guzzlers.”

Drivers pay 50 cents in taxes for every gallon of gas bought in Florida; another solution to recover lost revenues is to simply raise the gas tax.