The notion of the state implementing a tax on miles driven, replacing a motor fuel tax, goes back at least as far as the 2018 gubernatorial campaign, when candidate JB Pritzker said he’d consider copying Oregon’s pilot program, in which drivers who opted to have a tracking device in their cars were given credits on gas taxes.
Then-Gov. Bruce Rauner was sternly opposed, mischaracterizing Pritzker’s remarks in a television interview, but nonetheless delivering the standard talking point: “Let’s put a box in people’s cars — track how many miles when they drive to work, when they drive to school, when they go to the grocery store. That is big government, big taxing.”
Three years later and the idea isn’t any less controversial, but now there’s a 21st century twist. Secretary of State candidate David Moore, a Chicago alderman, wants the General Assembly to pass a law allowing digital license plates. In addition to the ease of using such technology to implement a mileage tax, Moore has said digital plates would help guard against stolen cars, enhance the Amber and Solve alert networks and keep people out of driver services buildings for title and registration paperwork.
Rep. Tom. Demmer, R-Dixon, responded to Moore’s ideas with preventive legislation. He introduced House Bill 4015, which would bar Illinois from issuing any type of license plate with a global positioning system device.
“Installing GPS trackers on every car in Illinois would raise serious privacy concerns, not to mention the potential for hacking and likelihood of technical problems in what would be an unprecedented intrusion by state government in the day-to-day lives of Illinois residents,” Demmer said in a statement, echoing Rauner. “The risks associated with digital license plates clearly outweigh any potential benefit.”
Mileage taxes have other concerns: they remove an indirect penalty against gas guzzlers. More importantly, they arguably benefit those living in tightly packed urban and suburban areas, who navigate few actual miles in bumper-to-bumper traffic or rely on public transportation, at the expense of exurbanites whose regular life demands longer drives. The state won’t ever tolerate fewer dollars in its road fund, so we’re all going to pay somehow.
Demmer’s legislation deserves consideration, but banning technology for those who embrace it — despite drawbacks — will be a hard sell.
Culinary Checklist update: I’ve invited readers to share favorite menu items from Illinois restaurants to create a collaborative “must-eat” list for summer road trips. Today’s come from reader Kevin Miller, providing the first Ogle County tip: “If a wing fan you should try JT’s chicken wings at the Chile Pepper in Oregon,” writes Kevin. “Everything made to order and heat from 0-10. And 10 is real heat.” Share your favorites via email or social media.
• Scott T. Holland writes about state government issues for Shaw Media Illinois. Follow him on Twitter at @sth749. He can be reached at sholland@shawmedia.com.
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