IndianaLocalNews

Truckers sue Indiana governor over increased toll road fees

A truck enters the Indiana Toll Road at the Portage, Ind. entrance in northwest Indiana Wednesday, in a Jan. 25, 2006 file photo. (AP Photo/Joe Raymond, File)

INDIANAPOLIS (AP) — A group of truck drivers is suing Indiana’s governor over a 35 percent fee increase placed on large trucks that use the Indiana Toll Road.

The Owner-Operator Independent Drivers Association Inc., Utah-based Chutka Trucking LLC, Indiana truck driver Mark Elrod and Ohio-based B.L. Reever Transport Inc. filed a federal lawsuit Wednesday challenging the constitutionality of the fee hike, The Indianapolis Business Journal reported.

The lawsuit alleges the increase is discriminatory and excessive, and that truck drivers won’t benefit from the hike because the revenue will be used for projects unrelated to the toll road, which runs across the northern part of the state from the Illinois state line to the Ohio state line.

State Senator David Niezgodski (D-South Bend) released the following comments:

“The governor was wrong when he thought these fee hikes would not impact commerce or the residents in northern Indiana,” Sen. Niezgodski said, “and I’m not surprised that there is now further pain Hoosiers must endure.

“I am hearing not just from heavy truck drivers, but from people all over northern Indiana, that the governor has overstepped his power. Michiana businesses will be the ones to have to absorb these fees and raise their costs. On top of that, Hoosiers in this area don’t like that these fees are being levied in only one region while then being distributed to other parts of the state.

“Hoosiers are not happy, and I call on the governor to allow the legislature to do its constitutional duty and appropriate this money properly.”

Gov. Eric Holcomb’s office said they disagreed with the lawsuit’s allegations.

“We do not believe there is any issue of constitutionality regarding the transaction,” Holcomb’s spokeswoman Rachel Hoffmeyer said. “We will vigorously defend the lawsuit.”

Holcomb in September announced that the toll road operator, Indiana Toll Road Concession Company, would increase tolls in exchange for $1 billion for state infrastructure improvements over the next several years.

The funds would be used to expand broadband access, add biking and hiking trails, improve roadways and attract more direct international flights. An amendment agreement directs the toll road operator to invest an additional $50 million into toll road improvements.

Indiana lawmakers later questioned the governor’s tolling decision and the fairness of the move.

The lawsuit is asking the state to stop charging the higher rate on large vehicles, and is also seeking additional information about tolls paid in the last two years. The truck drivers are also seeking monetary damages.

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2 comments

Dan January 14, 2019 at 10:20 am

Our absolutely democratic governor Holcomb is just doing his job. His job title is Money grabber extraordinaire. Absolutely crooked and democratic to his core. He will undoubtedly support the socialist government that has been trying to take over our country for decades. If he were actually a Republican as he pretends to be none of this would be going on.

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Thor January 14, 2019 at 12:08 pm

While trucks tend to not pay their fair share (1 truck loaded to the LEGAL limit doing as much damage as 200 autos) the funding should be used for roads…not bike trails, hiking trails, broadband access…it’s just so much fun to spend other peoples money. Sheesh.

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