Dan Titus, May 16, 2025

"…if somebody comes out with the idea that we're going to use the amount of miles you drive as some form of a punitive measure to regulate your behavior, this program is dead, dead, dead. It will just never happen…"  –  Jim Madaffer, California Transportation Commission, Road Charge Pilot

Road charge pilot programs, which propose replacing gas taxes with per-mile fees, are now being implemented throughout the United States. Influenced by the United Nations and California's climate change policies, the primary driver of these programs seeks outcomes that change human behavior and consumption patterns. In this article we will discuss road charge pilots in the context of these influences, denoting details on evolution, policy, current status and opposition critiques to these programs.

A key driver of road charge pilot programs is sustainable development, which in employs behavior modification techniques to steer individuals and communities toward environmentally and socially desirable actions, such as reducing carbon footprints or adopting renewable energy, in the name of climate change. Through mechanisms like hidden carbon taxes, subsidies for green technologies, or restrictive regulations, it incentivizes or penalizes behaviors, through punitive measures, to align with collective goals, often framed as serving the public good. However, this approach can be antithetical free association and informed consent, as it may bypass individual autonomy by imposing policies without transparent disclosure of their full implications or costs, such as higher energy prices or limited consumer choices. Road charge would institute punitive measures and regulate behavior by charging a fee for each mile a vehicle is driven.