In some jurisdictions like Ontario, if you don't pay your toll road account, you can't renew your registration sticker until the back tolls are paid. Then, there is Virginia. Like most other places that use video tolling and/or transponder technology, the issue is that the toll is issued to the registered vehicle owner or transponder lessee -- which is not always the driver.
I can understand a small fine for toll evasion on top of the tolls not paid. However in Virginia, one you hit your fourth offence -- whether it was you who committed it or not -- it becomes a civil offence with a minimum fine of $500 each time on top of the $25 video toll charge, plus whatever courts costs each county might charge. Compare that to grand larceny which has a minimum fine of $2500.
Some have paid their fines, such as someone in Loudoun who paid $1900. But some owe as much as $21,000 for upwards of 38 violations.
The scary thing is that with a main gate and exit tolls, one could pile up as many as three violations for each trip, which could be $1500. I thought Amendment VIII prohibits excessive fines which clearly this is. I totally agree that going on a toll road with no intention of paying or stiffing someone else with a bill amounts to petty theft – but $500 is way out of line.
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1 comment:
The United States and Canada have tollways; Norway has trollways where drivers must answer the questions three in front of an evil trollkeeper before entry.
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