Read on Twitter
I got a threatening fine/fee letter from @MaineTurnpike about a month ago for "running" two $1 tolls. It was a $75 fine and a threat to revoke my registration if I didn't pay the $75. Fine print: "unless your EZ pass battery died, in which case just call and you're all set!"
So I called, thought it was all set. spoiler: it wasn't.
I got a letter this morning "your registration will be revoked on August 23. You can reinstate it by paying all fees, fines, and an additional $50. You're subject to criminal charges if you drive, though"
I got a letter this morning "your registration will be revoked on August 23. You can reinstate it by paying all fees, fines, and an additional $50. You're subject to criminal charges if you drive, though"
So I called again, got a nice person "oh! If you pay $5 on your account, then we'll waive all of that and you'll be all set!"
It's hard not to be totally infuriated by how many ways this process screws over poor people. Say your address is wrong? Letter doesn't get delivered.
It's hard not to be totally infuriated by how many ways this process screws over poor people. Say your address is wrong? Letter doesn't get delivered.
Say you don't understand legalese and just keep driving because, hey, that would be so silly to consider me criminal for missing $2 in tolls... right?
Then you get stopped because your registration was revoked and now you're.. what.. in jail?? Over $2
Then you get stopped because your registration was revoked and now you're.. what.. in jail?? Over $2
The @MaineTurnpike is funded by fines and fees. They keep building highways and proposing new, carbon-producing projects like the Gorham connector, because "it's all paid for!"
Let's be clear about how it's paid for. We pay for it on the backs of the poor. And with our future.
Let's be clear about how it's paid for. We pay for it on the backs of the poor. And with our future.
You would not know from this letter that I could just give them $5 and be done with it, would you? huh.
Aaand this is how it ends up going, consuming staff time, resources, and your tax dollars as these fees and violations then wind up in court, "urgently" https://twitter.com/WellsCarina/status/1294305222462930944
Turnpikes and highways effectively funnel money from drivers to the society at-large. It's a wealth distribution from wealthy to poor. And for a state without strong public transportation, poor people are forced to drive, get fined more often & and pay more of that $9.
To close this out, I donated the amount of my original fine ($75) to https://wegotthevote.org/finesandfees/ and invite you to join!
