Driving is an everyday activity for most people, but what if you had to pay for every mile that you drove? Here in South Dakota they are considering doing just that.

          With the funds for South Dakota’s road repairs/upkeep depleted lawmakers are scrambling to find ways to replenish the funds. The proposed plan would tax drivers on the basis of how many miles they travel on the highways and interstates of South Dakota.

          Currently South Dakota gets three-fourths of its funding for road-building and repairs from the federal government but with the current situation of the economy, the future of those funds are in doubt.

          State Representative Shantel Krebs of Sioux Falls told the Rapid City Journal in a July interview that currently this same scheme is being tested in Oregon and may work in South Dakota.

          She goes on to say that taxing motorists for each mile they drive would ensure that those who use the roads the most are paying their fair share of the wear and tear.

          But how would this new “driving tax” effect college students, a group of people who often commute many miles not only for school but for jobs and to go home?

          “I think it’s a horrible idea,” says Ethan Langston, a high school senior who is planning on attending college in South Dakota. “Not only would it deter students from driving but it might make people think twice about going to school there too.”

          Many other students feel the same way. No one wants to have to pay for every mile they drive, in a state that they might not even be a registered resident of. As you can imagine, I couldn’t find anyone that thought this would be a good idea especially when college students already have a tight budget.

          But how exactly would that work? Would every vehicle that crossed the state line have to pay or only cars registered in the state? Would there be booths set up at all entrances into and out of the state to charge you for your logged miles or would they make all the roads toll roads?

          According to Rep. Krebs to gauge how many miles people drive special devices could be installed in vehicles. But that provides a problem too. Would only vehicles registered in the state of South Dakota be equipped with these devices, meaning the thousands of students who attend college in South Dakota from out of state aren’t having to pay?

          There are obviously still a lot of bugs to be worked out with the plan before South Dakotans start getting charged for every mile they drive, but just to be safe and to try and ensure that you won’t see this on your local ballot anytime soon you might want to write a letter to your local lawmaker and then hop in your car, drive to the post office and drop it in the mail—while the miles are still free.