Re: GPS in cars increasing in use

On Nov 18, 8:54 am, John Lansford <jlnsf...@xxxxxxxxxxxxx> wrote:
Larry Gross <gross.la...@xxxxxxxxx> wrote:
On Nov 17, 9:18 am, John Lansford <jlnsf...@xxxxxxxxxxxxx> wrote:
http://apnews.myway.com/article/20071115/D8SU9CCO1.html?45

"GPS tracking devices installed on government-issue vehicles are
helping communities around the country reduce waste and abuse, in part
by catching employees shopping, working out at the gym or otherwise
loafing while on the clock.

The use of GPS has led to firings, stoking complaints from employees
and unions that the devices are intrusive, Big Brother technology. But
city officials say that monitoring employees' movements has deterred
abuses, saving the taxpayers money in gasoline and lost productivity."

...

"It's growing by leaps and bounds," said Chris Ransom of Networkcar,
one of the country's leading providers of GPS systems. "I'd say we're
seeing double-digit growth among the municipalities, whether it's
statewide or down to the local county."

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So, to those who think this isn't the way that highway taxes will
eventually be collected, I suggest you think again. It always starts
with the public vehicles and gradually spreads to the private sector.
Perhaps initially there will be a lower rate for those who install GPS
in their vehicles vs an odometer tax, or a rebate for some of their
gas tax money paid at the pump. Then all new cars will be required to
have them. Eventually all vehicles will have them and revenue
collection will be based on your mileage (and destination) that you
travelled.

It will come; certainly faster than putting tolls on uncontrolled
surface roads, for sure.

well as long as GPS units are portable and can be moved.. or
removed... I don't think that idea is going to fly.

I don't see why; it's illegal remove your license plate or file off
your VIN number. Removing the GPS unit will be made illegal too.

and I would also agree that tolls on uncontrolled surface streets
MIGHT not be feasible

Uhhh, no, if you think raising the gas tax is political suicide, wait
until some lawmaker proposes telling property/business owners that the
road they must use will be tolled. That idea will never fly in this
country. The days when every little road was tolled are long gone and
they aren't coming back.

but there ARE cordon tolls in effect in Europe
and so it would be physically possible to toll some kinds of surface
streets - in a similar way.

New cars could have odometers that "broadcast" (active or passive
RFID)... but that alone won't do it because you'd need the VIN and/or
the license tags to also do it... and then how would you handle out-of-
state travel?

Nationwide tax similar to the Federal gas tax.

It's a whole lot simpler to do tolls...

For controlled access roads, perhaps. Not for anything else.

I wouldn't rule out a mileage tax... 5 or 10 years from now.. but it
will take manufacturer changes in autos, new "mileage" sensors/
receivers and new Federal/State laws... to do this... and I don't know
about you guys but government is not generally known for moving
quickly... even when everyone wants them to.

The fact that they are considered when tolls on all roads is not even
on the drawing board tells me they will be here sooner than you think.

John Lansford, PE
--
John's Shop of Woodhttp://wood.jlansford.net/- Hide quoted text -

- Show quoted text -

even better...

you offer each driver two choices:

1. an EZ-Pass

OR

2. a government-installed GPS unit that will "record" your movements

so .. the Feds won't go for 2... but Oregon and NC decide to do it on
their own.

so each car owner in NC gets a notice to report to the State
Inspection station to have their government GPS installed ... OR they
can return the letter to get an EZ-Pass transponder for free that they
CAN use but don't have to... but if they do, they can get discounts
and no-stop toll-paying... (some states are now charging MORE for
cash tolls than EZ-Pass tolls).

this is a no-brainer John...



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