AARoads Forum

National Boards => General Highway Talk => Traffic Control => Topic started by: roadman65 on September 08, 2021, 09:10:55 AM

Title: Unpaid Tolls are in the millions
Post by: roadman65 on September 08, 2021, 09:10:55 AM
http://www2.pewtrusts.org/research-and-analysis/blogs/stateline/2021/09/07/out-of-state-toll-scofflaws-vex-state-authorities
Interesting article of how much owed in unpaid tolls totals in dollars.
Title: Re: Unpaid Tolls are in the millions
Post by: kalvado on September 08, 2021, 10:36:38 AM
If NY Thruway is a good comparison, they are running a $700M budget,  and $10M would be  about 1.5% of budget. Nit good, but not a deal breaker.
Taking into account all the plate processing surcharges, and reported mess with tolls by mail, count me  as unimpressed with these tears. Making payments  easier for out of area drivers would be a good start.
Title: Re: Unpaid Tolls are in the millions
Post by: SectorZ on September 08, 2021, 04:36:05 PM
If a state provides no opportunity for someone to pay cash, then they have no right to belly ache when an out-of-stater doesn't pay.
Title: Re: Unpaid Tolls are in the millions
Post by: Rothman on September 08, 2021, 04:48:55 PM
Quote from: SectorZ on September 08, 2021, 04:36:05 PM
If a state provides no opportunity for someone to pay cash, then they have no right to belly ache when an out-of-stater doesn't pay.
Pfft.  Sounds like better enforcement is all that is needed.
Title: Re: Unpaid Tolls are in the millions
Post by: 1995hoo on September 08, 2021, 04:51:57 PM
Quote from: SectorZ on September 08, 2021, 04:36:05 PM
If a state provides no opportunity for someone to pay cash, then they have no right to belly ache when an out-of-stater doesn't pay.

Not this tiresome argument again.
Title: Re: Unpaid Tolls are in the millions
Post by: formulanone on September 08, 2021, 05:40:37 PM
Quote from: Rothman on September 08, 2021, 04:48:55 PM
Quote from: SectorZ on September 08, 2021, 04:36:05 PM
If a state provides no opportunity for someone to pay cash, then they have no right to belly ache when an out-of-stater doesn't pay.
Pfft.  Sounds like better enforcement is all that is needed.

They'll spend more on enforcement than the lost toll revenue.
Title: Re: Unpaid Tolls are in the millions
Post by: Rothman on September 08, 2021, 07:04:17 PM
Quote from: formulanone on September 08, 2021, 05:40:37 PM
Quote from: Rothman on September 08, 2021, 04:48:55 PM
Quote from: SectorZ on September 08, 2021, 04:36:05 PM
If a state provides no opportunity for someone to pay cash, then they have no right to belly ache when an out-of-stater doesn't pay.
Pfft.  Sounds like better enforcement is all that is needed.

They'll spend more on enforcement than the lost toll revenue.
Nah.  Just need a database running so you can garnish wages.
Title: Re: Unpaid Tolls are in the millions
Post by: jp the roadgeek on September 08, 2021, 07:10:00 PM
Quote from: Rothman on September 08, 2021, 07:04:17 PM
Quote from: formulanone on September 08, 2021, 05:40:37 PM
Quote from: Rothman on September 08, 2021, 04:48:55 PM
Quote from: SectorZ on September 08, 2021, 04:36:05 PM
If a state provides no opportunity for someone to pay cash, then they have no right to belly ache when an out-of-stater doesn't pay.
Pfft.  Sounds like better enforcement is all that is needed.

They'll spend more on enforcement than the lost toll revenue.
Nah.  Just need a database running so you can garnish wages.

This is why MA wanted CT to implement tolls.  Since CT doesn't have them and MA is funny with their RMV (if you get a speeding ticket in MA and you're from out of state, it doesn't go on your motor vehicle record), they can't force another state to suspend a license for unpaid tolls because CT is not a member of EZPass.  New York can, and NY DMV is known for slapping administrative suspensions on licenses for sneezing wrong.
Title: Re: Unpaid Tolls are in the millions
Post by: Rothman on September 08, 2021, 07:19:56 PM
Quote from: jp the roadgeek on September 08, 2021, 07:10:00 PM
Quote from: Rothman on September 08, 2021, 07:04:17 PM
Quote from: formulanone on September 08, 2021, 05:40:37 PM
Quote from: Rothman on September 08, 2021, 04:48:55 PM
Quote from: SectorZ on September 08, 2021, 04:36:05 PM
If a state provides no opportunity for someone to pay cash, then they have no right to belly ache when an out-of-stater doesn't pay.
Pfft.  Sounds like better enforcement is all that is needed.

They'll spend more on enforcement than the lost toll revenue.
Nah.  Just need a database running so you can garnish wages.

This is why MA wanted CT to implement tolls.  Since CT doesn't have them and MA is funny with their RMV (if you get a speeding ticket in MA and you're from out of state, it doesn't go on your motor vehicle record), they can't force another state to suspend a license for unpaid tolls because CT is not a member of EZPass.  New York can, and NY DMV is known for slapping administrative suspensions on licenses for sneezing wrong.

Come to think of it, paying tolls should be a pre-tax deduction off of wages.
Title: Re: Unpaid Tolls are in the millions
Post by: SSR_317 on November 26, 2021, 07:38:20 PM
How about we just start banning tolled roads throughout the USA and come up with a better way for paying for them? :bigass:
Title: Re: Unpaid Tolls are in the millions
Post by: kalvado on November 27, 2021, 04:45:23 AM
Quote from: SSR_317 on November 26, 2021, 07:38:20 PM
How about we just start banning tolled roads throughout the USA and come up with a better way for paying for them? :bigass:
How about starting with the second part of the sentence?
Title: Re: Unpaid Tolls are in the millions
Post by: 1995hoo on November 27, 2021, 09:59:26 AM
We'll concentrate all the tolls in the area around Indianapolis and redistribute that revenue to everywhere else.
Title: Re: Unpaid Tolls are in the millions
Post by: jeffandnicole on November 27, 2021, 10:09:13 AM
Quote from: SectorZ on September 08, 2021, 04:36:05 PM
If a state provides no opportunity for someone to pay cash, then they have no right to belly ache when an out-of-stater doesn't pay.

Past arrests show that in-state people avoid paying tolls as well.
Title: Re: Unpaid Tolls are in the millions
Post by: bwana39 on November 27, 2021, 10:59:59 AM
Quote from: SSR_317 on November 26, 2021, 07:38:20 PM
How about we just start banning tolled roads throughout the USA and come up with a better way for paying for them? :bigass:

I probably drive as many or more miles a year than most of you in a given year. I have talked about the MSgt I knew in the Army. He was from Bedford–Stuyvesant (Bed-Stuy). When he joined the army at 19, he had never been outside of NYC. He had never driven a car. No one in his family had a car. Tolls help this family that rarely used highways from paying for them.

If the motor fuels taxes paid for all of the roads, I would agree that we should figure out how to do away with tolls. They don't.  Tolls are a specific user tax. They reward those of us whose vehicles are least fuel efficient (per axle), and tax those whose are most efficient at a greater rate. 

The two ways to do away with tolls are raise the motor fuels taxes SIGNIFICANTLY or just quit building (and perhaps even maintaining) roads.


And to the subject of this thread, Texas does a great job of collecting unpaid tolls from motorists from states they have signed compacts with. Our problem is our in-state scofflaws.
Title: Re: Unpaid Tolls are in the millions
Post by: Bitmapped on November 28, 2021, 09:40:23 AM
Quote from: Rothman on September 08, 2021, 07:19:56 PM
Quote from: jp the roadgeek on September 08, 2021, 07:10:00 PM
Quote from: Rothman on September 08, 2021, 07:04:17 PM
Quote from: formulanone on September 08, 2021, 05:40:37 PM
Quote from: Rothman on September 08, 2021, 04:48:55 PM
Quote from: SectorZ on September 08, 2021, 04:36:05 PM
If a state provides no opportunity for someone to pay cash, then they have no right to belly ache when an out-of-stater doesn't pay.
Pfft.  Sounds like better enforcement is all that is needed.

They'll spend more on enforcement than the lost toll revenue.
Nah.  Just need a database running so you can garnish wages.

This is why MA wanted CT to implement tolls.  Since CT doesn't have them and MA is funny with their RMV (if you get a speeding ticket in MA and you're from out of state, it doesn't go on your motor vehicle record), they can't force another state to suspend a license for unpaid tolls because CT is not a member of EZPass.  New York can, and NY DMV is known for slapping administrative suspensions on licenses for sneezing wrong.

Come to think of it, paying tolls should be a pre-tax deduction off of wages.

West Virginia allows a deduction from state income tax for West Virginia Turnpike tolls if you meet a certain threshold (>$25, allowing a 3-year carry forward period). See https://code.wvlegislature.gov/11-21-12H/ for details.