ABOUT TOLLS
Tolls Are User Fees
Tolls are, and have always been, a user fee for a specific highway project at a specific location. For example: The Lake Washington floating bridge was paid for by a toll. So was the Hood Canal Bridge, the SR-520 Evergreen Bridge, and the Tacoma Narrows Bridge. Everyone who used the bridges paid the same toll.
Tolls Are Project-Specific and Temporary
Always, tolls have been collected only for, and until its specific highway project was paid for. At that point, the toll ceased. And the money collected could only be used for that specific project. That's what makes it a toll. Otherwise it's a tax.
Tolls Are Protected
Furthermore, if a toll is collected on a project, such as SR-520, the collections are, and always have been, protected by the 18th Amendment, since those tolls were collected on a highway project, for a highway purpose, and paid for by highway users.
Tolls Are Uniform
Tolls have always been uniform and consistent. This means the toll is the same price for everyone, regardless of how they pass, be it car, truck or bus. And the tolls are the same everyday of the week, 24/7.
Tolls Are Not Taxes
If government can collect tolls at a certain location perpetually, and spend the money somewhere else on whatever they wish, (even non-highway purposes), then they cease being tolls and become taxes. That is the difference between a toll and a tax.
However, as of this year, the legislature began changing our tolling policy by making tolls never-ending, variable pricing, using funds for anything lawmakers want, disregarding the 18th Amendment's "highway purposes" only provision, and letting some people off the hook from paying. Now, they are no longer tolls - but have become taxes!
RESOURCE LINKS
The Necessity of Initiative 1125LEARN MORE ABOUT INITIATIVE 1125 AT:
CITIZENS' GUIDE TO INITIATIVE 1125 pdf by Michael Ennis Director, WPC’s Center for Transportation Sept. 2011
THE WASINGTON POLICY CENTER Learn more about Initiative 1125
ELECTIONS AND VOTING Initiative 1125: Washington Secretary of State - Sam Reed
BALLOTPEDIA - INITIATIVE 1125 Washington Transportation - Initiative 1125
VOTERS WANT MORE CHOICES Learn more about Initiative 1125
THE NECESSITY OF INITIATIVE 1125 Washington State Impolite
© 2011 Washington Traffic Institute - Initiative 1125