Posted on 02/10/2010 7:02:26 AM PST by Dubya
WYLIE — As a disabled veteran, Jeff Gudgeon feels he has paid enough. He says spending money on highway tolls is a cost he shouldn’t have to pay.
“It kind of gets to you,” Gudgeon said.
Thousands of disabled veterans in Texas get to drive toll roads for free — but not in North Texas.
(Excerpt) Read more at wfaa.com ...
I’m sorry, but being disabled shouldn’t entitle you to free tolls, free food, free 401Ks, free houses, free (insert item here).
I’m sorry for the circumstance you deal with, but this entitlement attitude must stop somewhere.
There were some contract honoring issues going on with the bondholders. It wasn’t a pretty debate. No one would have been happy with any outcome of that issue.
Hang one of those little wheel-chair thingies from your rear view mirror and you get free parking here in Austin!
14 Amendment be damned.
IMHO we shouldn’t be paying tolls on roads our tax dollars have already paid for.
I agree, no toll charges to any of us.
Why Should I Buy a TollTag?
Drivers using a TollTag will pay less to drive NTTA toll roads than those who do not. TollTags can be used on any toll road in Texas! You can also pay for pass-through and parking costs at DFW International Airport and Love Field Airport with your TollTag.
What's a TollTag and where can I get one?
Ever wonder what the big wide open lanes are for on the Tollway? Well it's for drivers with a TollTag. The TollTag allows you to pass through the tollgate without having to stop and pay.
The TollTag is a transponder attached to your vehicle which communicates with a computer in the toll plazas. Every time you go through a plaza, the appropriate toll charge is deducted from an account you set up when applying for a TollTag.
All active TollTags can be used on the Dallas North Tollway, President George Bush Turnpike, DFW Airport, Addison Airport Tunnel and Mountain Creek Lake Bridge. Future NTTA projects will also accommodate the use of TollTags.
You must maintain a prepaid account to cover tolls for the use of your TollTag. You will pay $40 when you submit your TollTag application for up to three tags. Each time your Tag passes through an operating toll lane, we will deduct the applicable toll from your account. TollTag users save 20 - 25% in toll fees by using the automated system.
Some of the toll roads in Dallas have been paid for for years. I say either let the roads be toll roads and stop charging the 1% MTA sales tax, or stop charge the 1% MTA sales tax.
Folks, if you knew the money these guys were raking in from both of these sources, you’d wonder why we don’t have individual, government provided hover crafts piloted by robots. The waste is obscene.
A conservative solution to this would be that each of us who knows a disabled vet who can’t afford tolls just buy a TexTag for him or her.
That way they have the tolls covered but contracts are honored.
That's right, it isn't fair. They should be paying the same tolls as everyone else in all parts of the state. This is the type of thing that destroys society. Special privileges for a particular group. I respect disabled Vets but beyond giving them money, no special treatment, period.
IMHO we shouldn’t be paying tolls on roads our tax dollars have already paid for.
From the looks of it, from what I've seen (and that's in Texas and Oklahoma), the money being paid in taxes isn't enough for what goes into the raods. So, if the tolls weren't there, then the taxes would have to be higher.
Thus, it's either you don't drive on those particular tolls roads, or get a TollTag or (in Oklahoma) a PikePass -- and drive on them.
But, if you don't have that option of tolls on those particular roads, then the taxes are going to be increased even more. I don't think people will like that one either... LOL...
I’m sorry, but being disabled shouldn’t entitle you to free tolls, free food, free 401Ks, free houses, free (insert item here).
I’m sorry for the circumstance you deal with, but this entitlement attitude must stop somewhere.
—————————————Yes, it needs to start somewhere, how about starting with Illegal aliens who have done nothing to protect our Country. Then we could afford to let a veteran waive a toll fee, eh?
I can’t see what logical connection there is to service in the military and being able to ride toll roads for free. We are proud of your service, but idon’t see how you anyone can claim their militray service entitles them to ride toll roads for free.
There is no end to the claims that could be put forth, using this logic. Why not free everything? Why not? You were in the service. If you can have free toll roads, why do you have to pay property taxes? Or federal taxes? Or pay for your own car or house? Why not be able to ride any form of public or even private transportation for free?
The logic behind this is very weak. We have plenty of non-toll roads the rest of society can use if they don’t want to pay tolls. You pay for the covenience of better, less congested toll roads like everyone else.
Great idea. That is the solution. Set up a charity to buy the tags for them.
And with respect to toll roads, I agree that tolls should not go into the general budget. They should be set at a level so that that particular road is maintained with some extra to create a reserve for periodic heavy/replacement maintenance.
A conservative solution to this would be that each of us who knows a disabled vet who can’t afford tolls just buy a TexTag for him or her.
And certainly, if there is public support for this, it would be easy enough to form a non-profit group to provide that kind of support for these people. And the money for it can come from donations.
Yep, I don’t see how it would be that hard to set up. My FIL is a psychiatrist with the VA and I’m sure he could help with connections to both vets who need help and ways of distribution.
Why rely on big brother for something we can do.
And what have you personally been doing to make your suggestion actually happen?
And further, you are comparing apples and oranges, just to be clear. Toll roads are generally not public roads. Generally they are private roads and the tolls are collected by a private company that uses part of that money for upkeep of said road. And NOBODY has an inherent right or entitlement to use a toll road. You get to use it IF you decide to pay to use it.
In contrast, illegals are living off of public money. And they also believe they are entitled to it, when they are not. I doubt many military people truly believe they have a moral claim to use toll roads for free, though I am sure many feel it is a nice thing to have.
I guess that depends. Are the toll roads in Texas public-funded or are they built and run by private companies?
I agree, not everything should become free. They already get a full break on property taxes. Don’t know about property taxes.
And unlike property taxes, that are mandatory without the exemption, one can choose NOT to drive on toll roads or to take buses and transit options also except from tolls.
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