Yesterday I posted a funny-but-not-that-funny story about a woman in Massachusetts who is getting toll charges for cars other than hers, all because of her “The Simpsons” vanity plate.
Regular readers/podcast listeners will know I lean left politically, but one area I’ve found common cause with the libertarian set is on toll roads. The logic — only those who use this road should pay for its maintenance — makes sense to me, though I also understand that logistics mean that that logic can only apply to limited-access highways.
On the other hand, I’ve lived 99 percent of my life in Northeast Illinois. Our toll system is a bit odd — there are only one or two toll booths in the state that aren’t in the Chicago area, and, in theory, our toll roads were only supposed to be toll roads until they were paid off — and yet they continue to exist as toll roads and not freeways.
Let’s not even talk about my brief rebellion against this system in my 20s — let’s just say it didn’t work.
So I may be a bit biased based on experience here, but I don’t love the Illinois toll system. And the toll roads and turnpikes in neighboring Indiana and Ohio haven’t always treated me well. Not to mention the cost can pile up when you are driving all the way across a state.
On the other hand, the logic of charging only those drivers who use the road, should, in theory, make sense.
So, what do you say? Should we keep toll roads, even if we get incidents like the one I reported yesterday? Should we get rid of toll roads under the assumption that just about all drivers will use the freeways once in a while, so it’s still fair to tax those folks or charge them via whatever means roads are funded near you? Should we only toll tunnels and bridges?
This may get political, so you’ve been warned — play nice or get banned. We do read the comments.
Sound off below.
[Image: rawf8/Shutterstock.com]
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