Penalty for gas guzzlers considered
By firecracker
@sacmom (14192)
United States
April 9, 2007 1:28pm CST
SACRAMENTO (AP) --
A penalty for driving a Hummer or Expedition?
That's what the Silicon Valley lawmaker is proposing in a bill making it's way through the state Assembly.
Under the legislation, California drivers who buy new vehicles that emit high levels of greenhouse gases would pay a fee up to $2,500.
But many car dealers say the legislation unfairly targets large families, farmers and ranchers. And, they say, it basically amounts to tax on large vehicles.
The bill won approval from the Assembly Transportation Committee two weeks ago.
Here's a link to the full story:
http://www.news10.net/display_story.aspx?storyid=26434
I just read this on my local news web site. Do you think it is fair to do this to everyone that buys a new large vehicle that eats a lot of gas?
3 responses
@tlb0822 (1410)
• United States
30 Nov 08
Sorry but i think that is completely and utterly unfair. Yep another way for the government to make another buck. What the heck is going on here. Some families need larger vehicles so they need to be penalized because they have to use more gas. So I guess they are going to start penalizing schools to since buses take a lot of gas. First of all these people with larger vehicles are already paying to fill up their gas tank, why should they be penalized for having a large vehicle. There are seven members in my family, and I don't even live at home but my parents need a larger vehicle to get around just to go to the store. This is just ludacris. The auto makers should be fined to for making the vehicle if it is such a big problem. They wonder why this economy is in a slump. People are just going to take these larger vehicles and trade them in since the government has nothing better to do then to reach into our pockets. Yeah we sure have a lot of freedom here in america, can't even chose what kind of car you drive without fear of getting penalized by the government. This is going to go over real well with people...not. What is the government going to do next penalise you per child you have since they consume more food. Overall I obviously think that it is completely unfair.
@coffeebreak (17798)
• United States
30 Nov 08
Don't know about fair or not, but at the same time, I am sorry but I just don't see the need for hummers to tot around town. Why does anyone need that? THe price of gas and that huge monster eating it up so one can look cool? I know some SUV's are necessary due to kids and sports and such, but at the same time, we have had kids and sports for decades and did fine without gas gussling SUV's - remember the station wagon? That was the perfect kid car! Then you throw in the part about why I have to suffer for their emissions cause cause they want a cool car... I toted around 2 kids for years in a Ford Escort Wagon -around town and traveled back and forth from here to texas and up the coast all the time and did absolutely fine! Had everything I needed and then some!
Its kind of like public utitilites - i conserve and conserve in my little apartment and even when I had a house - always conserving... while these huge mansions and those on huge lots use 10 times the water to waater their luxury lawns and use 10 times the elecricity to heat/cool their homes and I can't even affford to do the same, but they use up all the utilities.. yes they pay te bill, but they are using up public resources extensively until we are at a shortage ....so the state is considering making them pay more for their utilities because they USE SO MUCH MORE than the general public. Is it fair? Yes, in this case I think it is. They are using up a natural commodity that is at its limit these days...and all to water their personnal huge lawns and cool their huge houses.
