TAXMAN MAY SOMEDAY RIDE WITH YOU

One day, perhaps, every vehicle on the road will be equipped with a computer that uses satellite technology to record every mile you drive, and in which states and on which roads. Then the government will use that information to tax you for your driving.

That day could be just five to 10 years away, according to an article by Larry Sandler in the MILWAUKEE JOURNAL SENTINEL, as Wisconsin has joined eight other states and the federal government in paying for an $800,000 study of whether such a system could be created to replace the gas tax.

Although this Orwellian concept is plagued with privacy concerns, they're pressing ahead with the study, because they fear the growth of alternative-fuel cars could mean the end of the road for the gas tax. As a side benefit, they say the system would give every driver a satellite navigation unit and a way to call for help in an emergency. Such a system also could lower gas prices, eliminate toll booths and allow businesses to build and run highways, added David Forkenbrock, one of the researchers leading the 2 1/2-year study.

Much of the technology already exists, in the form of the global positioning system units that have started to appear in cars. With GPS, a small computer in your vehicle can use satellite signals to pinpoint your location anywhere in the world, then find that location on a map and provide directions to any destination. With the maps in the GPS unit's database, the on-board computer could keep a record of how many miles each car or truck traveled on each road in each state.

Drivers could be required to periodically download that data to a government computer network, perhaps at terminals installed in gas stations, claims the article. Then a central government clearinghouse would analyze the data and mail all drivers bills assessing them a Wisconsin tax for miles driven in Wisconsin, an Illinois tax for miles driven in Illinois, etc.

Some states might charge different rates for driving on interstate highways, local streets or other types of roads. Because people are traveling on public roads in full view of everyone, gathering this information ''is really not much of an invasion of privacy,'' Forkenbrock said.