Posted on 12/31/2015 10:18:50 AM PST by MichCapCon
Proponents of traffic law enforcement cameras on Michigan roads are nothing if not persistent. Hardly a year goes by without a group of legislators trying to empower local governments to contract with vendors of “automated, unmanned traffic monitoring devices" to increase traffic fine revenue.
The latest proposal is riding along with a potentially far more massive scheme that would permit hundreds of state and local government agencies to tax, borrow and spend for a virtually unlimited range of new projects (including toll roads and lanes) if they bring in a private partner in a “partnership agreement.â€
The Senate Commerce Committee held a recent hearing on legislation — Senate Bills 627 and 628 — that would make all this happen. The state would enter into partnership agreements with private companies to build government infrastructure projects or provide services that “serve a public purpose,†with the private partner operating the facility or program.
In concept, some projects like toll roads or lanes would pay for themselves through user fees. The private entity in the deal would maintain and operate these, including collecting the tolls. And that’s where the “photo-cops†come in.
Senate Bill 628 would authorize $100 fines for not paying a toll. But James Walker of the National Motorists Association says this is a precursor to traffic enforcement cameras. Under current Michigan law, police must witness and hand-deliver tickets for “civil infractions.â€
However, that would not apply to the private toll operators SB 627 would authorize. These operations would be free to use traffic enforcement cameras to send tickets. Those who don’t respond would be subject to the most stringent measures short of jail, including driver’s license suspension, wage garnishment, impounding vehicles and even a putting lien on your property because a camera accused you of not paying a toll.
Under federal law, Michigan is currently prohibited from collecting tolls on its federally funded interstate highways, but that too could be changing. On Dec. 2, The Hill newspaper reported that a compromise in a $305 billion federal highway funding bill takes a step toward more tolls on interstates, by means of a pilot program that lets states choose whether to participate.
The Michigan partnership agreement bills were introduced by Sen. Mike Kowall of White Lake. A spokesperson for his office said they do not create any new toll roads and only apply to existing tolls on bridges and similar facilities. Senate Bill 628 would allow the state to use unmanned electronic tolling system to enforce those tolls.
It bears repeating that the main thing the bills would do is greatly expand the ways state and local government agencies could launch new debt and spending adventures, some at the instigation of private developers who see an opportunity. The automated photo-cop tickets are a small part of this scheme.
The NMA’s Walker is not so sure the bills preclude collecting tolls on existing Michigan routes, and said this would be bad for motorists. He pointed to one section of the Kowall bill that refers to “reconstruction, rehabilitation, improvement, repair†alongside “imposition, charging, assessment, collection, and enforcement of user fees.â€
Just stop wasting money and FIX THE DAMN ROADS!
Three weeks later I get a really neato looking NJ EZ-Pass envelope. Thought it was another promo mailer. Oh, no. It was a legal notice telling me about their legal right to destroy my credit rating and keep me from driving if I didn't pay a fine of $52.90. My toll was supposed to be $1.65. The instruction were to pay $2.90 and withhold the $50 fee if there was a dispute. I sent off a check for $2.90. So, I got screwed after getting a threat.
Just wondering how many other cars they got extra loot from that day just because their attendant took a coffee break. Something smells.
“Just stop wasting money and FIX THE DAMN ROADS!”
Government was theoretically set up to provide services too big for individuals, like building roads and bridges. It has changed since the FDR administration and evolved into a huge pork trough. The purpose now is for politicians to use other people’s money to secure graft for themselves and their friends and feed the back-scratch machines. They actually want people to yell about how bad things are, like potholes, so they have an excuse to raise taxes and fees. Rinse. Repeat.
I think they deliberately let roads go to hell to “encourage” people to support higher taxes.
They’re jealous of the cronyism across the big lake here in Chicago.
You should have taken a picture of the sign.
I know, 20/20 hindsight.
I have learned to trust NOTHING when it comes to government/quasi-government.
In the future I would take a photo of that ‘Attendant away’ sign.
Correct me if I’m wrong. But weren’t interstate highways built with a 90% federal 10% state mix of funds? And wasn’t the intention that they be toll free? Isn’t it a fact that these roads were built and paid for long ago? Aren’t states and local government supposed to maintain the intestates through their road maintenance funds, and not through tolls?
Yep! Quite possible. I wouldn't put it past them.
Michigan has four seasons:
Early winter,
Mid winter,
Late winter, and...
Road constuction season.
Those orange barrels you see are the official state flower.
Think about it; when was the last time when I-94 did not have a construction zone going on?
I'm sure I read a couple of accounts of municipalities getting rid of their cameras for safety due to the increase in accidents.
I got one of those damned tickets driving through Maryland.
Check it out. after sitting for about three hours in a massive traffic jam north of Baltimore due to construction, traffic freed up.
They set up one of those cameras right there. At that spot. For a specific reason of generating revenue.
Boy, does this make me hot under the collar. I am all for the sharp, narrow rail, hot tar, and feathers for people and legislators who are proponents of this.
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