John --

Here we go again.

A couple of years ago, SANDAG (San Diego's Transportation Agency) tried to slap a per-mile tax on every driver. You spoke up, we fought it, and we won. Now Sacramento is pushing a statewide version — the “road charge” — and it needs to be stopped before it lands on every commuter, parent, and small business in California.

What’s being pushed

• Charge you for every mile you drive, tracked by odometer, GPS, or other technology.

• Add a new layer of costs on top of what you already pay in gas taxes, registration fees, and even property taxes.

Why this is wrong

• Privacy: No one should have to install devices or share travel data with government just to drive to work or take kids to practice.

• Double-paying: We already fund roads. Fix wasteful spending before inventing new taxes.

• Unfair to rural and working families: People who live farther from job centers or can’t afford to live near transit will be hit hardest.

• Higher cost of living: From contractors and delivery drivers to landlords who pass on costs, this will raise prices across the board.

This isn’t about electric vs. gas cars. It’s about government overspending. Sacramento should cut waste, prioritize core services, and protect taxpayers — not track miles and raise costs.

What you can do today

1. Tell your State Senator and Assemblymember: Oppose the California Road Charge.

   • Find your representatives: Find your State Senator and Find your Assemblymember.

2. Use this quick message (call or email):

   • “I’m a constituent. Please oppose any per-mile ‘road charge.’ It invades privacy, double-charges drivers, and punishes rural and working families. Fix wasteful spending instead of creating new taxes. Thank you.”

We stopped the SANDAG mileage tax together. We can stop this statewide version too — but only if we raise our voices now.

Let’s make life more affordable, not more expensive.

San Diego County District 5 Supervisor Jim Desmond
https://www.supervisorjimdesmond.com/