SEATTLE—A new animated video from Washington Policy Center (WPC) reveals why a Washington state move toward a Road Usage Charge (RUC or mileage tax) would likely take money away from the constitutionally protected highway fund and divert drivers’ dollars toward non-highway purposes.

The minute and a half video illustrates how a mileage tax works and how Puget Sound Regional Council officials, who have a voice on the RUC Steering Committee, note they would like "a broader consideration of possible uses,” in other words, they do not want mileage tax revenue to be protected by the 18th amendment like the current state gas tax is (for highway purposes only). Used for spending unrelated to roads, a Road Usage Charge would not be a targeted user fee, but a general tax.

“As is often the case in transportation policy, the devil is in the details,” explained Mariya Frost, WPC’s director of the Coles Center for Transportation. “This video catches people up on what they need to know about mileage tax plans in Washington in just under 90 seconds.”