Vehicle Tracking

As oil and gas prices continue to climb, car manufacturers are realizing that the best way to make a profit is to develop fuel-efficient smart cars that run cleaner, longer, and greener. At first glance this seems like a great thing for consumers and for car manufacturers, unfortunately the tax loving government does not see things in the same light. Many state governments have been drafting legislation to equip vehicle tracking and GPS tracking devices to motorist’s method of transportation for tax purposes. As cars become more efficient and less gas dependent, the tax money generated from gas will decline, resulting in less tax money for the government to “appropriately” allocate. The government’s solution would be to install a vehicle tracking system to every vehicle, calculate the miles driven, and tax each person according to the vehicle tracking system’s record of how many miles were driven.

Vehicle Tracking: Solution or Problem?

Vehicle tracking systems have been commonly used by business to monitor driver’s mileage and other important data. The information provided by a vehicle-tracking system supplies businesses the essential data to enhance efficiency. However, when a person is on the clock working there is an understanding about the enforcement of vehicle tracking or GPS tracking technology.  The vehicle tracking systems not only make paperwork and documentation easier for employees, but the GPS tracking systems can also help in routing and planning. Therefore, employees and employers have a positive and progressive feeling about the vehicle tracking technology.

Vehicle tracking technology being used on company time is much different than vehicle tracking technology being used on personal time, and it has a completely different condonation and begins to cross constitutional rights that every American is entitled. Coexisting with a vehicle tracking system or other GPS monitoring system while on the job most people feel is acceptable and sometimes beneficial. However, when a vehicle tracking or GPS tracking system is being used to monitor an individual’s car on personal time is where the gray area begins to evolve. At first glance, yes it appears that a vehicle tracking system would effectively monitor and tax those who use the roadways more than those who rarely frequent the roadways. Doesn’t it seem like an easy solution? Unfortunately, the vehicle tracking or GPS tracking system would not only be recording an individual’s mileage driven but the vehicle tracking system would also be recording other specifics such as location, date, time, addresses, stops, etc. The vehicle tracking system could record whether an individual was at a bar. The vehicle tracking system could record whether an individual was speeding. The vehicle tracking system could record what church or other organizations a person is affiliated with. This is where the potential problem is with a vehicle tracking system being on every individual’s form of transportation.

GPS Tracking Data Provides too much Information?

GPS tracking systems provide such qualitative data that some people might feel an invasion of privacy if their car or motorcycle had a vehicle tracking or GPS tracking system monitoring it. If the vehicle tracking system records detailed information other than just mileage then there is the potential that the government could access and store the highly sensitive information. What could the government do with the information recorded from the vehicle tracking system? Are vehicle tracking systems the solution to the tax problem? Is there a better solution?