Contest a Toll Fine

[ThinkingWolf]

OK, please be patient:

My wife recently posted a complaint message to the Illinois Department Of Transportation (IDOT), specifically the Illinois State Toll Highway Authority via their web site, admonishing them for coercing the tollway Users to either pay double cost ("cash") of tolls, or "buy" into their IPass - the electronic toll paying transponder/sensor system (basically tracking all who enter the system).

In response, it sent to our home (in less than a week) a nice letter itemizing some (potentially all) of her alleged toll infractions. Tolls plus fines totalling $100+. The letter goes on to offer to recieve payment or to schedule a requested "hearing" (within 21 days). Also, you can request to arrange an "evidence review" (photos of vehicle tags, some computer crapolla).

My wife claims that she honestly accidentally passed through an IPass dedicated lane twice, so those two line items seem accurate, but the other three currently listed are wrong - in her opinion.

Anyone who has used the Illinois toll roads knows that those unattended toll booths are terribly maintained, my experience (every day to and from work) says that at best they work 50% of the time - this is based on the incorrect light response to my donation, or the coin hopper being clogged, or the guy in front of you smashing something and the computer photos the next vehicle.

My wife is willing to pay the two inadvertant violations plus the fines for them. But she wishes to contest the others.

I suggested that she simply ask for the evidence in the mail and take a look at it... neighbors and friends say that the evidence is rarely if ever provided. I also suggested that we somehow refute its claim by pointing to the terrible operational record (that I do not have).

Any suggestions?

[weaponx71]

A friend of mine is in a simular situation. They sent him a pic of his car at a time, and said he skipped the payment. The picture clearly shows his window down, in the middle of November. He said he knows he paid it.

So I told him, make them prove it besides sending a photo. They are state ran right? So they are governed by some kind of checks and measures department on those machines. Specific information has to be there for every payment that was made.

The way they set things up, how could YOU ever prove that you paid? Its so one sided its crazy. I would say take em to court and make them prove that errors like yours COULDNT happen, without a reasonable doubt.

Just a thought on it...

WeaponX

[weishaupt1776]

Go to adventuresinlegalland.com & buy the book. It is not a "how to win" book. You will learn how to attack the rationale of the game in order that they throw it out because you are exposing the scam in open court.
BTY, say that the Suiheads sent ya.

[test]

http://www.phantomplate.com/photoblocker.html



test

[iamfreeru2]

Test,

I like it!!!

[rushpat]

In the case of the photo tickets, ask to cross examine the witness. If they claim that the camera is a witness, how can you cross examine a non-human witness? If they say that the operator of the camera is a witness, it could only be 2nd hand knowledge, as they weren't there at the time.

I think the case of the Illinois IPass is just another step to mandating lo-jack style tracking systems, as we get closer to world domination by the would-be world leaders.

Bye, bye freedom.

[ThinkingWolf]

Thanks for the comments.

The toll authority has refused to mail the "evidence" to our home; it insists that the "evidence" is available ONLY at the time of a hearing - which my wife has requested.

[weishaupt1776]

Download that Bill of Particulars in the downloads & send certified. Address it to the manager/supervisor & also send it restricted so they sign for it.