Legislative Alerts For Motorists - National Motorists Association

Pennsylvania: Three Revenue-Generating Bills

Tue, 02 Oct 2007 12:40:47 +0000

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

Fri, 07 Sep 2007 12:49:06 +0000

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.

They will start with the "easy sell," ticket cameras on traffic lights and railroad crossings. Then they'll move to speed enforcement and HOV lane violations. Potential even exists for camera monitored stop signs and "no parking" zones. You name it, they'll find an excuse to put a camera up, just as long as it generates money.

To counter this threat the NMA is sponsoring a special strategy and education session to stop and prevent the use of ticket cameras in Florida. This session will take place in Tampa, Florida. Everyone who is interested in stopping the spread of ticket cameras and the abuses they spawn should attend this strategy session---we need your support and input. We hope to leave this meeting with a firm plan to stop ticket cameras in Florida.

In order to arrange adequate meeting accommodations we ask that you RSVP to NMA Florida Activist Henry Stowe by emailing him at silverstreak13442@yahoo.com or calling (407) 375-8445 by 7:00 PM Monday September 10th. This is your chance to stop this menace before it gets a foothold in Florida. Once the cash starts to roll in these local governments will fight tooth and nail to expand the ticket camera revenue machine.

Please contact Henry as soon as possible!

Pennsylvania: I-80 Tolls

Wed, 08 Aug 2007 14:51:30 +0000

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.

We also urge you to contact your legislators and let them know how you feel about these tolls. You can find out who your legislators are by visiting this site.

Tolling I-80 is nothing more than a quick fix for closing gaps in the state budget.
Harrisburg politicians failed to consider the significant, adverse economic impact of the plan as well as traffic diversions on secondary roads, negative impact on the environment (stopped cars/trucks will emit more pollutants), among others.

User fees are already in place.
The gas tax offers a way to charge drivers according to how often they are on the roads.

Adding tolls to the gas tax allows the government to charge motorists twice for the same road.
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.

Additional information can be found here: www.motorists.org/tolls/

List Of Media Contacts:

Erie Times
814.870.1808 (fax)

Record Argus
argusnews@rrbiznet.com

The Herald
724.981.5116 (fax)
edletters@sharonherald.com

Warren Times Observer
editorial@timesobserver.com

Pittsburgh Tribune Review
bfryer@tribweb.com

Butler Eagle
news@butlereagle.com
ATTN: Joe Kasprzyk
724.282.4180 (fax)
724.282.8000 (phone)

Tribune Review
opinion@tribweb.com
412.320.7914 (phone)

Erie Times News
letters@timesnews.com
814.870.1600 ext 3 then ext 1 to follow up

Meadville Tribune
tribune@meadvilletribune.com
814.724.6370

Corry Journal
corryjournal@tbscc.com
814.664.2288 (fax)
814.665-8291 phone

Arizona: Fake Camera Tickets

Wed, 08 Aug 2007 14:38:45 +0000

With the expansion of ticket cameras across the state, local officials are becoming more and more interested in ways to increase the revenue they generate. It has come to our attention that some areas are sending out “fake tickets” from these ticket cameras.

This scheme is designed to force people into identifying the driver of the vehicle in a photograph in order to ensure collection of the fine. A similar tactic has been used in California for years.

You can find out more information on this scheme here:
http://www.motorists.org/photoenforce/home/fake-red-light-camera-ticket/.

Michigan: Repeal Driver Responsibility Fees - SB638

Thu, 19 Jul 2007 09:29:49 +0000

Senate Bill 638 would repeal Michigan's very punitive Driver Responsibility Law as of October 2007. This is the law that adds hundreds or thousands of dollars to ticket fines over three years and improperly suspends the drivers license of those that do not or cannot pay.

It is similar to the new law just enacted in Virginia, and has created huge problems for Michigan motorists. The NMA has testified against this law and we believe it should be repealed. You can find out more information about the bill, including its full text, at this link:

http://legislature.mi.gov/doc.aspx?2007-SB-0638

We urge you to contact your legislators and let them know how you feel. You can find out who your legislators are by visiting this site.