Boles: Gas Tax Cap OK

As of Friday, March 25, 2011

State Rep. Jamie Boles, the Republican whose district includes most of Moore County, likes the idea of capping the gasoline tax rate.

But he is far from committed on a bill that would make it illegal for anyone of any age to use a cell phone while driving.

“What’s the next thing we’ll restrict drivers from doing? Eating? Drinking coffee? Putting on makeup?” Boles said of the bill that would ban hand-held cell phone usage while driving.

House Bill 31, which was introduced by Rep. Garland Pierce, a Scotland County Democrat, drew spirited debate in a House Commerce subcommittee meeting Wednesday.

Both opposition and support were bipartisan.

Boles said he fears the bill treads too heavily on people’s privacy and their rights in general. Existing law prohibits young drivers from texting or talking on cell phones while driving, but the prohibition does not extend to adult drivers.

“Where is this all going?” Boles asked. “At what age will we stop with restrictions?”

The bill would provide limited exceptions, such as 911 emergency calls and calls by law enforcement officers and first responders in emergency situations.

Boles is more enthusiastic about a bill that would place a temporary cap on increases in the motor fuel excise tax.

This bill, HB 399, was filed last week. It passed the first reading Monday and was referred to the Committee on Finance.

“We won’t lose any money by doing it, and to me, it’s a tax break for drivers,” Boles said.

The existing gas tax law authorizes the state transportation secretary to adjust the tax rate according to a formula based on the latest average wholesale price of gas.

The bill would cap the amount that the tax rate could climb.

Under the proposed cap, Boles said, the state would receive the same amount of tax money regardless of the cost because the tax is applied to gallons sold, not to the cost of gas.

He sees it as a boon to drivers, faced with ever increasing gas prices in a day of severe economic downturn.

Both bills must be approved by the House, then the Senate, and finally signed by the governor before becoming law.

Contact Florence Gilkeson at florence@thepilot.com.

More like this story

stepbill 2 years, 1 month ago

I had to start laughing when I read what is next, not being able to put makeup on. Yes, that should be a part of it and I believe eating too. I have ate a burger while driving and it's not the safest thing too do. Sometimes the knee comes in to play with helping the steering wheel while my hands are busy.

Easygoing 2 years, 1 month ago

I definitely do not want to stop people from putting on make up while driving. I always feel much safer when I look in the rear view mirror and see the large SUV with a woman at the wheel using the rear view mirror to put on her eye makeup. Sorry this is not politically correct.

None 2 years, 1 month ago

“What’s the next thing we’ll restrict drivers from doing? Eating? Drinking coffee? Putting on makeup?” Boles said of the bill"

Why not oppose the bill ~ more business for his business. Perhaps Jamie doesn't have time to read national statistics on accidents by cell phone users.

Here you go Jamie: http://www.edgarsnyder.com/car-accident/cell-phone/statistics.html

coffecreme 2 years, 1 month ago

How about a bill to prohibit you from talking to the passengers in your car while driving???? I kind of see his point. He just did not express himself well.

NocOwl 2 years, 1 month ago

“What’s the next thing we’ll restrict drivers from doing? Eating? Drinking coffee? Putting on makeup?” Boles said...

Really? God forbid people should actually have to pay attention to the road while driving. Sheesh.

coffecreme 2 years, 1 month ago

Hey I am all for two hands on the wheel and two eyes on the road at all times. Why nitpick specific items though? One law...all eyes on the road and all hands on the road at all times when wheels are in motion

NocOwl 2 years, 1 month ago

Oh, yeah. I'm all for keeping your hands on the road while driving. :)

MoldyLunchbox 2 years, 1 month ago

i lol'd

coffecreme 2 years, 1 month ago

hahahaha.... I hope yall know I meant steering wheel! But it is funny!

OBXNC 2 years, 1 month ago

Come on guys, you know exactly what Mr. Boles was trying to say. This man is trying to save your rights to make your own adult decisions . There are already laws on driving in a safe and controlled manner, no matter what you may be doing while driving a motor vehicle. We don't need to specify every single thing you do each day. Obey the laws we have,and get off your sorry rear ends and act like adults. Most of us can think, and use our own desicion making without it having to be enforced by the government.

None 2 years, 1 month ago

Toda said " Why not oppose the bill ~ more business for his business. Perhaps Jamie doesn't have time to read national statistics on accidents by cell phone users." Any man that has 30 plus years of volunteer service on the rescue squads in this county, and still is volunteering, I'm sure has more information on motor vehicle accidents than needed to make informed desicions about motor vehicle laws. I'm sure, and know he would wish no one had to lose a family member in a wreck, or be seriously injured. You are pretty good at "cheap shots".

None 2 years, 1 month ago

That is exactly right. He is a good man.

None 2 years, 1 month ago

What has his being good or not good have to do with highway crashes due to distracted drivers. A 11 year old girl was on her way home from school and was within 15 peddles from her driveway when a distracted cell phone drive struck and killed the child. That make Jamie Boles a good man...you go with that mindset.

None 2 years, 1 month ago

That was uncalled for. You made the comment "why not oppose the bill ~ more business for his business." which was meant to mean he was oppsed to the bill because he is a funeral director and more deaths would be good for his business. You sir are not a nice man.

None 2 years, 1 month ago

My mistake ~ she was 9 years old...here's your link...Have fun with this since this is a joking matter for such a serious subject.

http://abcnews.go.com/GMA/oprah-winfrey-urges-national-cell-phone-zone-drivers/story?id=10514425

None 2 years, 1 month ago

How does that make Jamie a bad man? Was he the driver?

None 2 years, 1 month ago

Not a cheap shot OBXNC. Can you read and understand statistics. Obviously not. Just because he volunteers on the resuce squads has absolutely nothing to do with national driving statistics on traffic deaths of young people while texting or being distracted by cell phone use. Not cheap shots ~ I read before posting unlike some who raise a defensive banner before understanding an issue.

Try this link: http://www.aaafoundation.org/pdf/TextingFS091012.pdf

Or this one....http://www.distraction.gov/stats-and-facts/

Did You Know? Research on distracted driving reveals some surprising facts:

* 20 percent of injury crashes in 2009 involved reports of distracted driving. (NHTSA).
* Of those killed in distracted-driving-related crashed, 995 involved reports of a cell phone as a distraction (18% of fatalities in distraction-related crashes). (NHTSA)
* In 2009, 5,474 people were killed in U.S. roadways and an estimated additional 448,000 were injured in motor vehicle crashes that were reported to have involved distracted driving. (FARS and GES)
* The age group with the greatest proportion of distracted drivers was the under-20 age group – 16 percent of all drivers younger than 20 involved in fatal crashes were reported to have been distracted while driving. (NHTSA)
* Drivers who use hand-held devices are four times as likely to get into crashes serious enough to injure themselves. (Source: Insurance Institute for Highway Safety)
* Using a cell phone use while driving, whether it’s hand-held or hands-free, delays a driver's reactions as much as having a blood alcohol concentration at the legal limit of .08 percent. (Source: University of Utah)

Bflat 2 years, 1 month ago

Ever watch traffic going by and traffic turning while you're stopped at the traffic light? How many of those drivers are talking on cell phones? Now ask youself how many talking on cell phones have followed you too closely? How many have come too close to you when traveling 4 lane roads? How many times have you been hit by a driver that was busy talking on a cell phone? Well, I have news for you. Talking on cell phone while driving is dangerous, distracting and can cause you to end up in an accident

And, there's nothing wrong in quoting the facts and making a comment based on those facts. Facts are facts.

None 2 years, 1 month ago

All you are talking about is unsafe driving in different ways which is already against the law. A law enforcement officer can already cite you for those things no matter what they are the result of in the vehicle. You will never be able to regulate by a law every single thing going on unsafe in a car.

None 2 years, 1 month ago

OBXNC why not forget about the National Traffic Institute and Harvard studies researching the hundreds of thousands of deaths of pedestrians and distracted motorists. Teenagers texting while driving with a car full of classmates on the road. No big deal as long as we have rescue squads manned by trained professionals ~ Right! I suggest before posting a thread that reflects your in maturity, perhaps some research would help the academically challenged to better understand issues. Try this link: http://www.nsc.org/news_resources/Resources/Documents/NSC%20Estimate%20Summary.pdf

Just more paper with statistics representing lives of American's killed by distracted driving during the use of cell phones. Glad we have rescue sqauds manned by funeral directors. It makes the trip short and saves time....

Awwww just another research study: http://www.hostos.cuny.edu/wac/Driving%20Us%20to%20Distraction.htm

Apparently the NHTA is wasting taxpayers dollars doing all this research[?]. Right

Drive on and watch your rear view mirror for 16 year olds texting and driving....

buckmark 2 years, 1 month ago

If you are going to make a law to ban cell phone use while driving then lets make it apply to not only civilians but to our law enforcement officers too. I see a lot of or police officers talking on cell phones just like everyone else. If you ban it for one ban it for all. No Exceptions.

jeepnjo6 2 years, 1 month ago

How about pets in the car. You can't possibly be able to pay attention to your driving with Spike sitting in you lap while your trying to steer.

buckmark 2 years, 1 month ago

I guess no one read the part about the cap on the gas tax. With the rising cost of gas we all should be in support of capping the tax we pay for each gallon of gas we buy. I compliment Jamie on his stand on both issues.

uwharrieheirlooms 2 years, 1 month ago

No reading road signs or billboards or looking at a nice house or seeing what the price of gas is before you stop. The list could go on and on.

None 2 years, 1 month ago

Toda, I see the cheap shots are two for one this time. Sorry to bother you with common sense.

None 2 years, 1 month ago

Perhaps educated commentary for those with limited intellect and the uncanning ability to produce factual information as opposed to the blind legislators leading the uninformed blind. Links are provided for a reason...research not common sense, as you would think would be more diserning when voting for the good of the driving public. I understand that thousands of lives taken both on the highways and on sidewalks isn't that important to you until you are rear ended by a 16 year old texting her BFF. Cheap Shot no less ~ or a rear ender?

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