Plan Would Make NJ Drivers Pay by Mile, not Gallon

A New Jersey state senator is suggesting dropping the gas tax for drivers of passenger cars and replacing it with a per-mile charge.

The Senate Transportation Committee is discussing the measure on Monday.

Sen. Jim Whalen's proposal would charge a little under 1 cent per mile. The current gas tax is 10.5 cents per gallon.

The measure would be a way to make owners of electric and high-efficiency cars pay for using roads. But it could also reward owners of gas-guzzlers, who would pay less per gallon of fuel.

Drivers would be on the honor system to report how much they're traveling, though they would be verified at inspections and the state could order audits of suspected cheaters.

Copyright 2013 The Associated Press.