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Motorists illegally detained at Florida tolls - for using large bills!
wtsp.com ^ | 3-5-11 | Mike Deeson

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 ...


TOPICS: Local News; Miscellaneous; Travel
KEYWORDS: booth; donutwatch; florida; motorists; toll
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To: Big Bronson

Idiotic hyperbole. Did you learn that at a code pink rally?


61 posted on 03/06/2011 6:46:14 AM PST by cripplecreek (Remember the River Raisin! (look it up))
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To: diverteach
he only complaint I have when you do use larger bills is that expect your change to be all ones.

Back in the 70's my wife was in a hospital in Miami having our 3rd child.
I went to the hospital to visit and was taken aback when I found I had to pay to park in the hospital parking lot.
Being the smartass I am, I gave the toll booth taker a 20 dollar bill.
He gave me my change in...Quarters. I lose !

62 posted on 03/06/2011 6:46:23 AM PST by Vinnie
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To: cripplecreek
Did you learn that at a code pink rally?" is itself idiotic hyperbole.

If I only have a twenty and some toll barney fife is making a big show of taking my information for the crime of sporting an Andrew Jackson, then yes, I'm going to push right back and you need to sit there behind me in line and suck it up y'hyperbolic weentard.

63 posted on 03/06/2011 6:53:46 AM PST by Big Bronson
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To: Big Bronson

At this point I’m just laughing at you but continue if you wish.

I’m a regular ole Pol Pot. LOL


64 posted on 03/06/2011 6:58:28 AM PST by cripplecreek (Remember the River Raisin! (look it up))
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To: jennings2004
Something about “legal tender for all debts, public and private”. What part of “all” do you not understand? THANK YOU. I was waiting for some sanity in this thread.
65 posted on 03/06/2011 6:58:34 AM PST by ImaGraftedBranch (...By reading this, you've collapsed my wave function. Thanks.)
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To: cripplecreek
I’m a regular ole Pol Pot. LOL

Nah, you're just desperate for attention, you goonball. ha ha ha

66 posted on 03/06/2011 7:03:59 AM PST by Big Bronson
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To: macquire
This lazy jerk’s rights end where he infringes on my rights to timely and efficient passage over public and private roads. And just where is that right in the constitution?
67 posted on 03/06/2011 7:04:47 AM PST by ImaGraftedBranch (...By reading this, you've collapsed my wave function. Thanks.)
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To: rawhide

This will simply push them to electronic-only tolling.

Drive around with tracking transponders in your cars, or stay off of the toll roads. That simple.


68 posted on 03/06/2011 7:13:07 AM PST by BobL (PLEASE READ: http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2657811/posts)
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To: mrs. a

I imagine this ICC would still have toll booths, allowing you to pay cash, if you wish. I have EZ Pass, and it’s great. You zip right through, no lines, and they charge your credit card for every toll.

If they would start tracking me, or sending me speeding tickets by mail, I would get rid of the EZ Pass.


69 posted on 03/06/2011 7:22:29 AM PST by Big E
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To: TPOOH
More evidence for the need to repeal all these silly ass government rules, regulations and some laws then we wouldn't need all those public servants to enforce them.
70 posted on 03/06/2011 7:25:49 AM PST by Americanexpat (Everytime I see that guy's face ot)
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To: cripplecreek
While the policy (if it exists is wrong) he cost the taxpayers far more than if he had simply planned to have correct change.

You estimate that the value of eliminating this liberty-curtailing policy is zero?

71 posted on 03/06/2011 7:40:41 AM PST by rogue yam
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To: macquire
the toll clerk is not permitted to make change for high denominiation bills.

This is not what the article says.

Before deciding who is or isn't a jerk you should get the facts straight.

72 posted on 03/06/2011 7:44:03 AM PST by rogue yam
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To: Bluebird Singing

We have had the toll transponders in NJ for a number of years. I always figured they tracked the speed and travel info but no one got tickets. The quite thing to do with the info would be to sell the db to the insurance companies so they could adjust your rates according to the speeds you drive. Not everyone that speeds gets a ticket to notify the insurance companies of your driving habits. Most people around here use the EZ Pass.


73 posted on 03/06/2011 7:47:33 AM PST by Edison (I don't know what irks me more, the lying or the incompetence.)
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To: rogue yam

So you purchase your newspaper with $100 bills...


74 posted on 03/06/2011 8:13:07 AM PST by macquire
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To: cripplecreek

You blame someone for not having correct change........ It must be hell to get a bag of chips at a vending machine. :^)


75 posted on 03/06/2011 8:17:30 AM PST by eyedigress ((Old storm chaser from the west)?)
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To: macquire
So you purchase your newspaper with $100 bills...

It is easy for most people to make more sense than you're making.

I wonder whether you are deliberately posting nonsense, or if you are unusually untalented at discussing ideas.

76 posted on 03/06/2011 8:25:52 AM PST by rogue yam
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To: eyedigress
You blame someone for not having correct change

Not the first time. I blame him for being a pathetic attention seeking whore for doing it repeatedly in an appeal to the American idle watchers among us. It doesn't mean I agree with the toll takers or company but being an unnecessary pain in the ass doesn't impress me.
77 posted on 03/06/2011 8:26:02 AM PST by cripplecreek (Remember the River Raisin! (look it up))
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To: cripplecreek

It seems to me that the first experience kicked it off, then was verified upon further examination.


78 posted on 03/06/2011 8:31:49 AM PST by eyedigress ((Old storm chaser from the west)?)
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To: Bluebird Singing

IIRC, they did something similar to that long ago on the WV turnpike. When you got on you received a time stamped entry ticket which you presented and paid for the use of the road at the exit where you got off. If you arrived at the other end too “quickly” you could be subject to fine.


79 posted on 03/06/2011 8:34:43 AM PST by kalee (The offences we give, we write in the dust; Those we take, we engrave in marble. J Huett 1658)
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To: Americanexpat

Or do as Tennessee does and not have any toll roads. BTW, TN wins year in and year out for best roads in the Country according to Trucker Magazine. Hmmmm.


80 posted on 03/06/2011 8:45:28 AM PST by eyedigress ((Old storm chaser from the west)?)
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