Pennsylvania: Three Revenue-Generating Bills
Pennsylvania legislators have become unusually preoccupied with padding the budget with money from motorists like you and me lately. They need to know that we will not accept their legislation without a fight. Here are three ways they’re trying to take money out of your pocket:
1. There is legislation to add tolls to Interstate 80 as part of Act 44, the transportation budget plan. Combining the gas tax currently in place with additional tolls places an unreasonable burden on motorists. Better government spending and not allowing transportation funds to be diverted to other programs are the answer to budget problems, not new fees.
2. There is a bill, HB1559, which would turn the red-light cameras into speed cameras. This allows the city to generate revenue through speeding violations in addition to red-light violations, while at the same time making no improvement to the safety of motorists.
3. The Pennsylvania House Transportation Committee is considering of legislation, HB247, which would convert school buses into mobile ticket cameras. The bill would divert $100,000 from the state's gas tax fund to kick start the ticketing pilot program.
We need your help to defeat these proposals. If your legislators don’t hear from you, they will assume that you approve of their actions. Contact your legislators here and tell them that Pennsylvania drivers are not cash registers.
Florida: Stop Ticket Cameras
It has come to our attention that a corporate-government coalition is being formed in Florida for the express purpose of legalizing photo enforcement ticket cameras.
Currently, Florida state law does not authorize the use of ticket cameras for law enforcement purposes. The private companies that market ticket cameras in combination with local government officials and law enforcement agencies are launching an all out campaign to pass legislation that would permit local governments to use this technology for revenue generation purposes. The Governor has already said he would sign such legislation if it comes to his desk.
Pennsylvania: I-80 Tolls
There are plans in place to install a tolling system on Pennsylvania Interstate I-80. There has been considerable debate on the subject, including legislation by two congressmen, Reps. Phil English and John Peterson, that would remove the financial incentive to put tolls in place. This legislation, the Free Highway Protection Act, has already passed the House of Representatives.Some talking points on the issue are below and a list of media contacts have been provided at the bottom of this email as well. Feel free to use these talking points to write letters to your local paper.
