Suit: Florida drivers 'detained' if tolls paid with big bills (a $20)

[seafan]

Unreal.


William R. Levesque reports in the St. Petersburg Times:

March 29, 2011

TAMPA — Whenever Joel Chandler tried to pay a $1 toll with a $20 bill in Polk County, he was asked by toll collectors to provide personal information.

The information, he said, included his name, phone number, address and date of birth. Unless he provided it, Chandler said, he could not proceed through the toll.

"So you all detain people until you get their personal information?" Chandler asked in one encounter he recorded with a cell phone camera.

"Yes, sir," the toll taker said.

.....

Last month, Chandler filed a federal lawsuit against state transportation officials saying toll workers across Florida had for at least four years refused to allow drivers through tolls if they paid with large bills — unless they provided personal details.

.....

At times, toll collectors asked or noted addresses, gender, phone numbers, ages and race, according to the lawsuit. Chandler said he believes toll workers also engaged in racial profiling, more often requesting information from minorities.

.....

Florida, this is our state under Republican rule.


This will fit right into Rick Scott's plans to boost tourism to the state. Along with killing our high-speed rail.

[buddysmellgood]

1. What is the point of that?

[JBoy]

3. Must have to do with concerns about laundering drug money.

Seriously though, who would launder money $20 at a time by driving through toll booths?

I'd rather launder it in a bar, buying drinks with $20 bills.

[seafan]

4. To *combat counterfeiting*. Never mind Rick Scott's company's thieving of Medicare.

Who was it who said, "Some days it's not even worth chewing through the restraints."

[Vinnie From Indy]

2. Ver are your papers?

I would simply make shit up for the toll operator. My name? Charlie Sheen dumbass!

Good for this guy for suing these fascist bastards.

[masmdu]

5. I would say my name is "fuck u. asshole"...prove it's not...

[Ezlivin]

6. How to protest this:

Get a number of people together say, 30, and have them pay their toll with a $20 bill.

Do this at rush hour. Capture it on multiple video cameras.

Spread out so that each lane is taken by at least two of the cars.

Coordinate so that the next series of toll lanes are again tied up with $20 bills.

Repeat until the outrage causes a change.

Most "citizens" are sheep at best and will not do a damned thing until severely provoked. Instead of your 30 friends contacting their representatives, this sort of action can greatly amplify your voices.

[lpbk2713]

7. This is inconsistent at the very least.

I buy Florida Lotto tickets with twenties quite often and never a word is said.

[LeftinOH]

8. A $20 bill isn't a really "big bill" anymore -and I'm tired of having each of them scanned, marked

and held up the light to make sure it isn't counterfeit.

[Ship of Fools]

9. I can't remember where this is occurring, but

legislation is being introduced that will make it illegal (?) if a person on unemployment is carrying more than 20 dollars on them. Sorry, can't remember source ... but DEFINITELY remember the story.