Michigan Votes Forum

 NO TOLL ROADS! I am a truck owner-operator. There is something fundamentally wrong with tolls, period. Take down all lane restriction signs and replace them with signs stating, "Slower vehicles to the right, faster vehicles to the right." That is good common sense.

 there is something wrong with the state charging tolls on a public (tax paid) road. it's called theft.

I think the truck driver means faster vehicles to the left.

Worries me when truck drivers get their lefts and rights confused.

As a rule, I find that driving toll roads like the Ohio Turnpike, Pennsylvania Turnpike, New York State Thruway and Massachusetts Turnpike to be a good experience.  The roadways usually are in better repair than non-toll roads, and the traffic flow seems better regulated.

Toll roads may be a sound “user pay” solution to the highway congestion, condition and regulation dilemma Michigan faces.  But HB 4252 is not the right proposal. 

HB 4252 offers a too complicated, confusing solution that probably would create rather than resolve conflict.  It would do little or nothing in the long run to improve Michigan highway congestion and condition.  

 To crazycajun,

    Thank you. Theft of this type could be called extortion? Like gangsters taking "protection" money from you because you live or work in the area they took over? Keep your powder dry.

To jmangan,

    You are exactly right. I paid more attention to punctuation. I am embarrassed for not appearing more professional.

To SaneMichigander,

    It grinds my shorts to pay for a toll road (or a lumper). These are OUR public roadways built by OUR tax dollars that fees are raised and roads leased or bought by other countries or businesses. Tolls raise cost per mile, affecting the end user cost of all products. Road conditions in Ohio are ok, but stretches of Pensylvania and Illinois tolls are lousy. Merging, stop and go traffic at cash boxes waste time, fuel and increase collision potential.

    Also, the large amount on fuel tax revenue pays for all lanes, not just restricted lanes. I believe we have the right to use all lanes depending on traffic speed or conditions.

 you DO have that right... unless this bill passes.

then you WON'T have that right.

 The Michigan legislature, particularly so-called Democrats, continue to search for more and more ways to tax the citizens of this state into submission to the whims of government.  The only impact that tolls will have on this state is to relieve Michigan citizens of more of their income.  Government in Lansing has become nothing less than a feeding place for the parasites who are close to becoming the most influential voting bloc in Michigan.  I believe it to be fair to refer to our legislature as a criminal enterprise.  Perhaps we should consider a class-action to force investigation of the legislature under the RICO [Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations Act] statute.