At Hudson River Crossing, Picking Up Hitchhikers Takes Toll

[cpzilliacus]

In my opinion, this sounds like an illegal abuse of power by the PANYNJ.

Wall Street Journal: At Hudson River Crossing, Picking Up Hitchhikers Takes Toll

In Northern Virginia, especially along the I-95/I-395 corridor, this is called "slugging," and is not at all discouraged by government.

[agentsteel53]

With extensive overtime, some toll collectors make more than $100,000

well hell, I'm in the wrong field of employment!

[1995hoo]

The point about stopping illegally in traffic may–and I emphasize "may"–be a legitimate issue. Some of the slug drivers in DC were hopping mad when DC started ticketing them for obstructing traffic by stopping illegally in "no-stopping" zones to pick up slugs, but it seems to me that if the area is clearly signed for "no stopping" or "no standing" then the drivers don't have a legitimate beef. (One of DC's slug lines is on 14th Street just south of Constitution Avenue. Drivers regularly stop in a lane of traffic to pick up slugs, but the real problem is that if there are no riders going to that driver's destination, some drivers will just throw on the hazards and sit there waiting for slugs to show up. That sort of thing does need to be discouraged.)

In Virginia, on the other hand, the slug lines most often form in commuter lots and other places where drivers don't have to obstruct traffic to pick up or drop off.

The real question in the Port Authority case is the violation listed on the ticket. As the article notes, picking up people at a bus stop is not itself illegal unless they can charge a violation of an anti-hitchhiking law (but even then, the savvy driver would offer rides to the passengers, rather than the passengers soliciting rides). Stopping in violation of "no stopping" or "bus stop" signage does violate a traffic law and is a basis for a ticket. Seems to me the key is for the riders and passengers to figure out a location that doesn't result in either of them violating these sorts of laws. It's worked pretty well in the past 40 years in Northern Virginia and there are now websites devoted to the phenomenon (http://www.slug-lines.com being the primary one; it has maps showing the lines and a discussion forum).

[agentsteel53]

anti-hitchhiking law

that right there is a problem.  on what grounds can government step in and stop an agreement between two consenting adults?

I can understand that in some places it is unsafe to either stand by the side of the road as a pedestrian, or to stop to pick up a passenger, but blanket anti-hitchhiking laws are ridiculous.

[1995hoo]

anti-hitchhiking law

that right there is a problem.  on what grounds can government step in and stop an agreement between two consenting adults?

I can understand that in some places it is unsafe to either stand by the side of the road as a pedestrian, or to stop to pick up a passenger, but blanket anti-hitchhiking laws are ridiculous.

I don't disagree with that, but as long as those laws are on the books, they're presumptively enforceable.

[agentsteel53]

I don't disagree with that, but as long as those laws are on the books, they're presumptively enforceable.

they sure are, but if we're going to try to protest a law in an attempt to overturn it, we may as well start at the root of the problem.

[kphoger]

As a former hitchhiker, I should point out that laws related to hitchhiking vary from state to state; furthermore, individual cities can enforce stricter laws.  Then there's the fact that a private toll road is technically private property, and the owner may kick off whomever they want.

[cpzilliacus]

As a former hitchhiker, I should point out that laws related to hitchhiking vary from state to state; furthermore, individual cities can enforce stricter laws.  Then there's the fact that a private toll road is technically private property, and the owner may kick off whomever they want.

But the roads and crossings owned by the PANYNJ are not private, since the Port Authority  is itself a public entity.

[Alps]

As a former hitchhiker, I should point out that laws related to hitchhiking vary from state to state; furthermore, individual cities can enforce stricter laws.  Then there's the fact that a private toll road is technically private property, and the owner may kick off whomever they want.

But the roads and crossings owned by the PANYNJ are not private, since the Port Authority  is itself a public entity.

They can exclude all pedestrians if they want, or in this case, all pedestrians except for those riding the bus. They have the right to enforce laws requiring all traffic to keep moving unless they are buses. The solution of picking people up in a side lot makes more sense.

[Duke87]

The issue as I see it is less whether the Port Authority has the erm, authority to do what they're doing, and more what the motivation for doing so is. They don't like this sort of spontaneous carpooling because it costs them money, not because there's anything unsafe or disruptive about it.