Proposal Would Have Drivers Paying For Every Mile

You could end up paying a new tax for every mile you drive.

North Carolina state lawmakers asked a special transportation committee to come up with ways to fund road projects. One idea is to charge a mileage tax so that people who drive more will have to pay more toward roads.

Committee member N.C. Sen. Richard Stevens, a Raleigh Republican, said, "The more you drive, the more you pay. The less you drive, the less you pay."

The committee said maybe the state should charge drivers a quarter-cent or half-cent for every mile they rack up. So someone who drives 12,000 miles in a year would pay between $30 and $60 that year.

Some drivers said not so fast to the idea.

"I think this is the wrong time to institute new taxes," said motorist Steve Mirman.

The gas tax already tries to make people who drive more shoulder more of the burden. But committee members said the gas tax isn't bringing in enough money. Some of the members even suggested dropping the gas tax.

The committee is also considering toll roads. Some committee members want tolls up and down Interstate 77 and other interstates. Others just want tolls along the state's borders so that people coming into North Carolina pay for the roads.

The committee also thought about putting tolls on Interstate 485 but dropped the idea.

The committee plans to finalize its recommendations Dec. 10 and present them to state lawmakers in January. Then state lawmakers will decide which, if any, to adopt.