More to read at the link provided. You can read how this practice is costing the Florida taxpayers more money than it is worth, doing this.
Can’t have the public getting uppity.
Around Tampa they have largely eliminated cash at the tolls. If you don’t have the electronic pre-paid toll device they take a picture of your license plate. Then they send you a bill.
I’m sure they take your license plate all the time and track who goes where.
“You can read how this practice is costing the Florida taxpayers more money than it is worth, doing this. “
The toll roads are not really run by the State. They are managed by a holding company which “reports” to the state. Sort of like a public utility without the transparency.
The main toll road in Tampa collects $300,000 - $400,000 in tolls each day. This company gets all of that money to pay employees and maintain the road. Of course any large projects requires federal funding for some reason. I’m sure all that money is well managed though.
Incredible. So, the bureaucrats at FLDOT are mad because 1% of the taxes they’re collecting are bogus. So they come up with a program that’s costs more than the amount they’re being stiffed. Furthermore, it’s an illegal program, in their zeal to collect every dime they possibly can. And then, to top it all off, they lie about it.
The bureaucrats involved in this should all be fired. Probably not the toll takers, they’re just following orders, but the middle level people that said, “hey this is a good idea, let’s do this”, and certainly anyone who was involved in covering it up. That’s the most disturbing thing about this story. The way our government lies to us, repeatedly, continually, and casually, as if it’s no big deal. What, stupid peasant, you expected the truth? Every day goes by, it feels more and more like Orwell’s 1984 to me.
Imagine Germany in 1939 it was, “let me see your papers.”
Now here in America it has become, “let me see your credit card.”
He must have a lot of time on his hands. I would hate to go through that. Just pay the buck. Probably has enough loose change in the seats and under the seats to pay with. Time is precious to me. More time on Free Republic. lol.
I guess leaving a jar of Grey Poupon at the tollbooth no longer cuts the mustard when change cannot be made? Well then, pardon me.
I was just on that road last week. If only I had known how much fun I could have had if only I had tried to pay with a $100 bill.
More evidence of the need for far fewer public “servants.”
Something about “legal tender for all debts, public and private”. What part of “all” do you not understand?
Another reason to dispense with these overpaid glorified cashiers.
TX DOT Spent at least 30K to build a toll booth west of the Taylor Texas Airport to try to figure out how to position cameras to beat the toll booth runners who have figured out how to “train” through booths.
It is pretty funny, vehicles toting UHAUL trailers spend all day driving through the booth.
It is illegal according to Federal law not to accept his bills no matter what the size. Written right on every bill are these words, “legal tender for all debts public and private.”
Anyone who lived in the NY/NJ area in the pre-EZPass era knows that the toll workers were always a bottleneck on the highways.
I despise EZPass because it made taxation simple, easy and efficient, like payroll deductions.
However, not having an EZPass is crazy if you travel these roads frequently.
I would prefer a focus on eliminating toll roads.
We pay enough in fuel taxes that our roads and bridges should be world-class!
I’ve never had to use a bill larger than a $50. Used twenties plenty of times and never been asked anything.
The only complaint I have when you do use larger bills is that expect your change to be all ones.
After using a fifty you kinda feel like it’s time to go to a strip club.
Liars. Caught red-handed.
I’m not familiar with Florida Toll Roads.
Do you pay the toll before you get on the road or before you exit?
Many businesses refuse to take bills larger than $20. If the toll is paid before you “use” the road, they have a right to refuse you service.
That being said, there’s more going on than just not wanting to take large bills.
More government thuggery. I feel so much safer.
Now if I were running the program, I’d have set the profile to detain anyone that looked liberal. Obama or environmental bumper stickers for example. Hybrids. Peace signs. What fun that would be. See how much they worship government after that.