Posted on 03/06/2011 3:35:10 AM PST by rawhide
Meet Joel Chandler,who just paid his $1.00 toll on the Polk Parkway with a $100 bill,he is not allowed to leave unless he provides personal info to the toll taker.The toll taker tells Chandler this is what happens when they get large bills.
Chandler says to the toll taker,"So I'm being detained?"She says yes sir.
It is a policy the Florida Turnpike authority instituted for people who paid with $20,$50 or$100 bills. After it happened once,Chandler kept testing the system and taped his encounters as he went through the toll booths.
One time a toll taker told him, she wouldn't give him his change unless he gave her the information. He asked why he was being detained but never got an answer.
When Chandler called and e-mailed the Florida Department of Transportation to complain about the policy, he was told there is no policy to detain people who give large bills.
The practice continued at toll booth after toll booth and, if someone refused to provide the information, they were threatened with arrest. One toll taker told Chandler's brother Robert, "I could call FHP. Would you like me to do that, sir?" Robert Chandler asked why she would call the Florida Highway Patrol when he was being illegally detained and the toll taker said he could come up with another form of tender.
Chandler continued to complain and on July 21st at 7:19 p.m., he received an email from the assistant General Counsel of FDOT saying essentially the department didn't know what he was talking about and they don't have sufficient information to investigate. However, earlier that same day, there were a flurry of e-mails going back and forth in the department saying shut the program down, temporarily suspend it and who should call Chandler and what should they say.
(Excerpt) Read more at wtsp.com ...
“This note is legal tender for all debts, public and private”
If I am in line behind you and you are making a pointless argument for being able to pay a $1 toll or fee with a $100 bill, I will gladly be a witness for the proprietor or toll booth person as to your being a public nuisance.
I bet you pay your speeding tickets in pennies while you think “that’s showing them” don’t you.
You missed my hidden sarcasm.
“This lazy jerk’s rights end where he infringes on my rights to timely and efficient passage over public and private roads.”
He’s going to a lot of work to make his point, so he’s hardly lazy.
You don’t have a right to “timely and efficient passage over public and private roads”. Thats a privilege so behave and do what the state tells you.
Pay ‘em with two rolls of pennies.
No, I didn’t. That is exactly why I was laughing.
When I called to activate the pass the person I spoke to wanted my credit card information, tag number, DL number, and my mother's maiden name. At that I stopped the person asking the questions and told him I knew that my mother's maiden name was NOT required. He reluctantly backed off. I suspect some major identity theft's going on within the system.
They're all acting like TSA totalitarians wannabees running a checkpoint. It's offensive.
You are correct. The initial encounter was caught on video when we were detained. The following encounters were to document the policy as FDOT stated in writing that no such policy existed. As it turns out the policy is clearly outlined in their Policies and Procedures Manual.
All along our goal was to get FDOT to terminate the policy. After seven months of being lied it was time to file a lawsuit. At this point the lawsuit only names the FDOT leaders who created, implemented and maintained the policy.
Best regards,
Joel Chandler
In a Marxist society, it’s fun to be a commissar.
Huh!
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-chat/2684384/posts?page=90#90
I don’t get why the tolltakers aren’t issued a marker pen like my bank uses to check for conterfeit bills.
I also think FDOT needs their heads examined. Legal tender.
Especially for $20 bills, which are what ATMs pay out. What the heck else do they expect, especially with pay-at-the-pump which spares drivers having to enter stores for purchases?
You said you had a “right” that is not recognized in our constitution. I called you on it, and that’s your reply? Really?
Yawwwn.. I think you know exactly what I mean. No jerk has a RIGHT to screw up my transportation with a stupid stunt. I pay taxes; I have a right to anticipate my travels on the road I paid taxes for will NOT be hindered by obnoxious jerks out to prove a ridiculous point that means nothing to anybody but everything to them.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.