An injunction filed to try and halt the collection of truck-only tolls in Rhode Island has failed. The motion would have put the tolls on hold until the court case against them could be decided.
Rhode Island has been pushing forward with their controversial truck-only tolls despite legal challenges against them. A coalition of groups including OOIDA and the ATA are fighting back against the state’s one-of-a-kind program which would toll only heavy trucks. It would also force out-of-state drivers to pay more than in-state.
Opponents of the program say that it clearly violates the Commerce Clause of the U.S. Constitution which seeks to prohibit any bars on interstate commerce. Doubly so because of the penalty on out-of-state drivers.
While the lawsuit against Rhode Island is waiting for its day in court, both sides have attempted to get the suit ended early. With judges not buying that argument, the plaintiffs tried instead to ask a judge to at least block Rhode Island from collecting tolls until the case could be decided.
The decision made by Rhode Island Federal District Court Judge William Smith will allow the tolls to continue rolling in.
“This holding in no way presages the final outcome of plaintiffs’ claim at trial,” Smith wrote in his decision according to reporting by FreightWaves. The plaintiffs “may well be able to show that the (tolls were) enacted with an intent to discriminate against interstate commerce.”
So until the court case is closed, Rhode Island will be free to continue along the path that they expect will allow them to raise $1 billion off of truckers within the program’s first 10 years.
Source: freightwaves
Need to double the price of anything going to Rhode Island
Or better yet refuse to go there
Of course it failed. RI is so corrupt, just buy a judge and instantly it failed. What did you expect?
Of course it failed it’s all in who you
know. Dirty to the core.
That little state is almost as expensive as new york
The government should step in and pull the federal funding for 95 if that governor wants to keep the tolls just like Connecticut had to then all the trucks that don’t have to deliver in that state go around it
Don’t service any customers in R.I. until the tolls are removed. When their bellies start grumbling and they tire from driving out of state for essentials they will have incentive to change their minds.
I don’t blame politicians, I blame citizens for not doing anything about it, if you are a trucker and you don’t like the toll idea just don’t use that toll, don’t deliver anymore loads to RI, problem solved, trying to increase the rate won’t solve anything, at the end the politicians win, stay away is the only way to send the message or you can be their slave and do what they say you have to do, period.
Stay out of the State of Rhode Island and truckers can just bypass that state, if they need ass wipe they can buy it at next near by state, for double or triple the price, if the leadership believe they can squeeze more out of truck driver’s then don’t drive into that state, let the citizens to include their leader’s figure how to get the essential items to their state, maybe then they’ll figure that only tolls for trucks only is dumb and a failure
If we get together and stop hauling to these truck only toll states we will bring them down to their knees but, unfortunately we will never stick together! We have the power to change everything dealing with this Trucking industry if we shut down one week!
Your a little on the dumb side of life. Shutting down for a week will not do anything
Shut up stupid
3 to 4 days of induced panic that all freight would stop during initial days cleared shelves from coast to coast. A week they’d survive, two weeks true panic, three weeks demands of the government to do something, four weeks negotiations start.
So the other driver’s comment wasn’t stupid, short sighted maybe. But considering the tone of your response to the other poster, it goes to show we will never change anything. At least be open, hell, don’t reply or maybe explain why you dont think it would work. But one driver calling another stupid just shows that if two can’t at least compare ideas, what chance is there for 3.5 million commercial drivers to agree.
That’s right boycott the entire state of Rhode Island,that state has been the worst state against commercial vehicles,so the logical thing to do is boycott and starving them to the point of nonexistent,put the state on a Blacklist,blockade every road at the state lines,Nothing in And Nothing out,They’re and Arrogant group of people in that state who thinks that their crap don’t stink
Boycott the state is by far the best solution. Think about it, what does this or other countries do when another country does things that wrong others? Answer…. Boycott!!! After awhile they feel the hurt, their citenzens start turning against their government and then the government gives in and come to arbitrations with the other countries. Same thing here except on a smaller scale. As for the ATA, it’s amazing how they are against something when it hurts their wallet, but when it comes to the amended hours or service, they are dead set against it. As far as I’m concerned the ATA can go pound salt up their ass. The biggest problem of a boycott is not the little guys, its once again the ATA and all the Mega Fleets that support them.
As A Motor carrier based out of RI. And 40yr resident. This goes right along with federal hill and it’s crooked state ways. The mafia stoll tins of money out of this state and still does that is why all the construction work is by the company CARDI they take all RI road work. buddy cianci was a mayor of providence and got jail time . this state has always been a dirty pay to play state .. Its all in who you know. And if you don’t know the right person forgetaboutit
Don’t double the price, they don’t care. STOP DELIVERING TO STATES WHO UNFAIRLY TARGET COMMERCIAL VEHICLES. MAKE THEM GET THEIR OWN SHIT FROM ACROSS THE COUNTRY. Companies and O/O already pay higher tax prices at the pump, through IFTA states collect for miles travelled even when we don’t buy fuel instate, as well as paying 4 times or more higher fees on standard toll road. A truck only toll road should be the last straw. Stop delivering and watch the state crumble under it’s own stupidity. Not only are they forced to get their own neccessitys, such as food, fuel, medications and clothing, they also lose out on millions in IFTA payments and taxes from diesel fuel as demand would disappear. Hit them where it hurts.
But, as I’ve been saying for more than 20 years, it will never happen. As individuals we do what we think is right for ourselves, but we can’t or won’t come together as a group. As individuals, who cares what we think. As a group, steadfast and strong, we can bring an entire country to its knees in less than one month. We can put an end to unfair rules, targeted enforcement, low pay, shippers and receivers (including lumper services) who waste OUR time, money and refuse to acknowledge basic practices of freight handling, BOLs and detention.
If you doubt what I’m saying holds weight, let me remind you of a recent issue. When people feared a lockdown and belief that freight may be disrupted from Covid-19, they cleared shelves of basic needs. You couldn’t find toilet paper, paper towels, tissue, canned foods, fresh foods, diapers, frozen foods, dried beans and pasta, water and alcohol. It took 3 to 4 days of unnecessary panic to clear every shelf of basic needs. But it boosted freight for all of us to highest levels ever known. If people got wind of a massive shutdown of all trucking nationwide until demand are met at all levels of government, we become the masters of our future. More available safe havens, laws requiring shippers and receivers to give safe haven to any driver whose hours were wasted waiting to be loaded or unloaded. Elimination of high or truck only tolls, HOS that make sense, TORT reform on lawsuits and when driver is shown not to be at fault in an accident any and all lawsuits against the driver deemed frivolous and dismissed. There are issues and caveats with this, but, something that can be worked out.
Ok, stepping off the soapbox now.
MAFIA will be raking it in. That $2.50 gal of milk will now be $ 5.75.
I just refused 2 RI loads. Both paying well. Enough to pay the polls and some. That’s how it’s done! Until Judge Smith makes his decision. With Trump’s economy there’s plenty of work staying away from RI.