The Chicago Sun Times, in my opinion the finest newspaper in the country, filed an interesting story about Illinois Tollway scofflaws.
The report details how drivers who fail to pay tolls are finally getting pressured to pay their fees, fines and late charges but that is only part of the story. Let me set the table for all you folks who have not had the good fortune of having had any experiences on the Illinois Tollway System.
Now Illinois’ Tollway has been revamped in the past several years in an attempt to alleviate a condition created by too many cars on too small of a highway system. In some areas, extra lanes have been created but there is so much growth in the suburban areas of Chicago surrounding these main arteries that the ever frequent toll booths often slowed traffic down to a crawl at all times of the day.
In an effort to speed up the toll paying process, an open road toll system has been created whereby the four left lanes are set up for drive through toll fees being triggered electronically.
What happens is the drivers purchase a box that is fastened to their windshield and then as they drive through the electronic lanes, their toll is automatically deducted from their account. When their account gets low, they are automatically recharged from either a debit or credit card on file with the tollway authority.
Now to be certain the electronic toll paying does speed the process up as the opportunity to zoom through a toll booth at 65 miles an hour does beat having to get in line to hand a human a buck but there are severe drawbacks to the system that the computer dweebs never considered.
First off is that the pay-in-person toll booths are to the far right of the roads and not everyone is bold enough to be able to slip three, four or even five lanes of heavy traffic to get over into the far right lane where the humans are waiting to take your dollar. Often times, someone unfamiliar with the system is forced by traffic to stay in the electronic lanes and thus a picture of the offender’s license plate is taken as they are forced to speed through the toll point. There is no where to stop. There is no where to throw a dollar out the window. A motorist is simply forced to break the law. This is where the story can get ugly.
The Sun Times mentioned one scofflaw who decided over the course of two years to skip paying tolls and just run through the electronic lanes to the tune of over $ 80,000 in fines and fees owed the Tollway Authority. Now that is a lot of money at a buck a throw until one reads in the report that the scofflaw actually ran the booths just over a thousand times. Yes, someone who should have paid $1100. in tolls now is being sent a bill for $80,000 dollars. It seems the Illinois Tollway chieftains have a system of fees and late charges that would make Benny, the corner loan shark blush with shame The report goes on to state that Illinois in effect is charging $70. in late fees for every dollar owed them and then fees are tacked on to fees until the amount goes past all reason..
Now I can tell you from personal experience as one who was once trapped in the electronic lanes that I was forced to break the law four times as bumper to bumper traffic didn’t allow me to move over to the pay now lane. A few months later, I received a notice that I owed $64. to the state. The statement showed I had a four dollar toll fee owed plus a $60. dollar late fee added. I was a little short on money at the moment so I paid the state and told Benny to just roll my interest on what I owed him since his rates were so much better than Illinois’ 1500% annual percentage rate.
Now to be sure, people who enjoy breaking the law and feel compelled to act like they don’t have to pay their fair share need to have the hammer come down on them but this is ridiculous. In fact the rates charged by the Toll Authority actually are higher than those allowed by the states usury laws yet no one is challenging the authority for running an illegal juice loan system.
One quote in the Sun Times had a woman stating the Illinois Tollway was as bad as the Mafia. I asked Benny about that. He said his bosses wouldn’t have the nerve to charge the interest the State of Illinois does. It seems even the mafia has some personal pride. Not so it seems with the Illinois Tollway Authority.
Freelance writer, columnist, author and writing coach, ex-Chicagoan Mike Fak presently resides in Central Illinois. More information about Mike's services are available at his home website www.mikefak.com
Mike currently writes primarily humor columns for searchwarp bi-weekly and is the managing editor of www.lincolndailynews.com
Mike now offers a 26,000 word e-book on making money as a freelance writer for only $10.00 at this page. http://www.mikefak.com/id45.html
» left by Robert Melaccio, Sr.(5,177) Robert Melaccio, Sr. (2 years 27 days ago.)
Mike, try Florida's as well. A rip off of the first magnitude with amjor experiences to back up what I say. I will say no maore. Like everything else the government runs a pathetic mess. Do I sound somewhat upset these days? Well not at you just the bumbling fools running the show. Best wishes. Respond to this comment
» left by Anonymous (1 year 335 days ago.)
Mike, I was trying to find the article your speaking of to help me with my fines over 2,000 for an account screwup. 30 violations most while I thought my account was still in good standings, I also heard of another news story that exposes the tollway of not sending original bills so that they can charge the fines. can you add a comment with the date and headline, Thank you
kevin Respond to this comment
» left by Mike Fak(5,821) Mike Fak (1 year 334 days ago.)
Hello Kevin. I am sorry but I don't keep records more than a month or so. I can tell you that the story was a Sun Times headline in late September. Maybe their archives of Illinois Tollway stories will be able to help. Good luck. Mike Respond to this comment
» left by Anonymous from Frankfort, Illinois (1 year 153 days ago.)
Mike, I am currently at the will of the Illinois Tollway!! "Legalized extortion" is the way I would describe this. I have $166.00 in fines, now I owe OVER $11,200!!!!! Where is Lisa Madigan?? Oh, yeah, she is the Illinois Tollways Legal representatives!!! I believe the state of Illonois went after the businessse that were "Loaning" Illinois Citizens money... Check into Cash, Quicken Loans and other businesses that I don't remember names too, for Interest Rates that Exceeded the realm of ALL Reason!! Where is the state of Illinois NOW, when the good citizens of Illinois need them??? Oh Yeah, the good state of Illinois is MAKING A PROFIT from all of this Money the Illinois Tollway is "Extorting" from their citizens!!! And, how about those of us who DO NOT want big brother or this SORRY Run State watching over us, with the ipass... We have to pay DOUBLE the regular toll fees!!! WHY??? Because the state of Illinois doesn't want to have to deal with our Pocket Change anymore, they want to steal your money right from your checking account, WITH your permission!! Please, everyone, like me, who still pays with change I urge you to start paying with PENNIES!!!!!!!!!
Great article. Found it while searching for address for Ill Tollway. I live in central Indiana...not been to Ill for years, never been on the Ill Tollway, don't even know where it is. First I know, I get an extortion notice from some collection agency in Tx that I own Ill Tollway $354. No information as to why, when, or how. Just pay or suffer the consequences. At least you other "scofflaws" got to USE the tollway before they robbed you!!
I RECIEVED MY VIOLATIONS ALMOST 2 YEARS AFTER I FIRST WENT THROUGH THE FIRST GATE.I JUST KEPT DRIVING,I DIDN'T REALIZE I WAS DOING ANYTHING WRONG.OPEN ROAD TOLLWAY!SO,I HAD HEARING BY MAIL,DIDN'T HEAR FROM THEM AT ALL UNTIL YESTERDAY,I GOT A BILL FROM COLLECTION AGENCY.300.00 NOW 1,100 DOLLARS
» left by Wade Butler from Brewer, Maine (229 days 12 hours ago.)
I jsut received a toll violation from the Illinois Tollway today (03/13/2009) and I live in Maine. I visited Illinois in October 2008 for a wedding. While there my fiance and I rented a car to get from the airport to Glen Ellyn where we were staying. We apparently drove in an IPASS lane instead of a tollbooth lane and received 3 violations totaling $2.20 (we don't have lanes like this in Maine). They tacked on another $60.00 worth of fees because it wasn't paid back in October even though we were just notified of the violations today. Apparently there is a 7day grace period where we could have paid the $2.20 and avoided the fees; we had no idea until today. I called to dispute the fee and nobody was willing to do so. So far everyone we talked to has been rude and condescending to us. The woman said if I didn't pay up it would effect my credit and they would suspend my Maine drivers license. I have scheduled a hearing but was told that it wouldn't make a difference. If there is someone reading this post who can help us out that would be great. I have no problem paying the $2.20 but the additional fees are highway robbery. Please help!
» left by Tad from Rochester Hills, MI (197 days 15 hours ago.)
I just got my bill for $84.30 dated April 7, 2009. I was in Illinois in November and ran out of cash. There was a sign that said ifI didn't pay a toll, I could go on line and pay so I ran 4 tolls. I went on line as soon as I got back and it said I had to have remembered which tools I missed. I had no recollection of what tolls I had missed. I tried to call to find out how the process and was on hold for over an hour before I hung up. I don't know how to fight this.
The worst part is when you replenish your Ipass they will gladly take your money but not tell you about any violations. They'll just send you toll violations notices two years later.
Me too! I continue to get violations once a month from 3-4 years ago. Each time I get a violation notice I pay and ask if there are any more and they tell me no. Then each month I get hit for another undiscovered toll from 3 years ago. If I try to dispute it becuase they just told me there were no more, they tell me they will just suspend my license if I don't pay. It's extortion!
» left by maxwelle from illinois (170 days 12 hours ago.)
We are the people of illinois, and We think the tollway system is not justified. Illinois tollway must remove all of its tolls, re-imburse all of the honest hardworking citizens for the money they had paid to the tollway system, then beg for our forgiveness. We the people control how our government works. Therefore we need to organize a mass and demonstrate the need for the removal of the toll way system. A class action.
Complaints or reports of waste, inefficiencies, fraud, corruption, mismanagement, and misconduct may be reported to the OIG through the Illinois Tollway OIG Hotline at 1-866-7TOLL-IG or 1-866-786-5544 or delivered to the following address:
Hi all! Here is my situation: I do not live in IL, but I generously loaned my car to someone who did. She ran tons of tolls while she had it and now I am being contacted by an agency saying that I owe over $10,000. Because the car is registered under my name, I am to assume full responsibility! The person who was driving my car at the time is willing to do whatever possible to get this off of my record/out of my name, but I haven't been able to talk to anyone that can tell me how to do that. Any of your advice is greatly appreciated!!
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