N.Y. Senate Votes to Kill Ton-Mile Tax

June 4, 1999 1:12 PM, EDT

	Related Stories
	Maine Raises Fuel Tax, Truck Fee. (June 14) Harbor User Fee Debate Centers on Funding Source. (June 10) Oregon May Revive Diesel Tax Plan (June 4) Oregon’s Ton-Mile Tax Lives On. (May 26) Illinois Fee Increases Get Thumbs Up. (May 26) Kansas Eases Burden Of Road Bill on Truckers. (May 19) Federal Weight-Distance Tax Proposed. (May 19)

State senators unanimously voted to get rid of New York's ton-mile tax and raise truck registration fees by 50% to make up the lost revenue.

A bill approved by the Senate June 3 would eliminate the tax on Jan. 1, 2001.

The New York State Motor Truck Association is lobbying the Democrats in the General Assembly, who hold a majority, to go along with the Senate's bill. Republicans in the assembly have already pledged their support, according to William Joyce, the association's executive director.

He said the industry would save $80 million if the ton-mile tax was abolished.

"We have been very successful in showing that there has been a lot of evasion, that [the ton-mile tax] is difficult to comply even if you want to, and it just doesn't make sense," Joyce said. "There are more efficient ways to collect taxes. Our theory is that weight-distances are yesterday's taxes."