Q: Hi Honk: Your piece three weeks ago concludes with some discussion of an alternative to gas taxes. As your column mentioned, I have heard that we will likely shift to a system based on miles driven. I can see this as a fair proxy for how much value the vehicle owner derives from the roadways, and how much wear and tear they contribute. Do you know if any consideration is being given to taxing based on gross vehicle weight? I would guess a Civic or Corolla would have to drive a very long way to inflict the same wear and tear as a heavy vehicle like a Hummer EV. And the vehicle weight is a fixed and easily obtained data point and tax basis that would be a constant over the entire vehicle life.
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– Peter West, Tustin
A: Ultimately, the state Legislature will make the call on any road-charge fee, and a vehicle’s weight could certainly be part of the math.
Don’t expect a quick decision.
“The Road Charge Technical Advisory Committee meets about four times a year,” Justin Behrens, a deputy for the California Transportation Commission, told Honk.
Created by state law, the panel is to study possible recommendations tied to a potential road-usage charge that would replace the gas tax. Members include academics, politicians and others representing such groups as motorists, truckers and privacy-rights advocates. So far, two meetings this year have been canceled.
Also, the California State Transportation Agency and Caltrans are to provide a report by year’s end on a pilot program to lawmakers, Behrens said. For more than a year, drivers paid road charges and were given credit for the gas taxes they paid; those in electric vehicles got their overall annual registration bill reduced in exchange.
Some considerations: Owners of most electric cars pay $121 when registering in lieu of a gas tax. Trucks, even pickups, already pay a weight fee.
Q: Honk: As a regular commuter on the 405 Freeway, I often see drivers going at very high speeds, cutting in and out of traffic, sometimes racing with other cars as well. It is frightening, to say the least. As concerned citizens, is there anything we can do to assist the California Highway Patrol’s enforcement about this dangerous situation?
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– Alan M. Solomon, Los Angeles
A: Call 911.
For speeders, drunks, reckless drivers and the like.
“It’s not a bother at all,” said Fernando Perez, an officer and spokesman for the California Highway Patrol out of its Santa Ana station. “In fact, we encourage it. …
“Good description, license-plate number if you can,” he said. “And keep your distance.”
If you call while driving, that is OK — calling 911 for an emergency is exempt from the hands-free cellphone law.
Because you are on a freeway, the call will go straight to a CHP dispatcher who can alert officers.
HONKIN’ FACT: There were 1,355 deaths in California crashes involving at least one driver or motorcyclist with a blood-alcohol level of at least 0.08 in 2023, the last year statistics are available (Source: the state’s Office of Traffic Safety). That was down from 1,419 the year before.
To ask Honk questions, reach him at [email protected]. He only answers those that are published. To see Honk online: ocregister.com/tag/honk. Twitter: @OCRegisterHonk
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