Capitol Ideas

By 50 Cent

February 22, 2006 08:15 AM | Link to this

400 has a toll???

By LLS

February 22, 2006 08:34 AM | Link to this

I have never run through any toll, georgia or any other state. I agree with the state for a change, in that if it is your vehicle and you have not reported it stolen, then it is your responsiblity for any action that is done with it. These people have been cheating the system and have gotten caught now they want sympathy and lawyers to be on their side to say it is ok to decieve and cheat until it hurts them personally. I am tired of adults trying to get away with things as if they were kids. If I am caught speeding two miles over the speed limit, I get a ticket. The law simply states if I go 57 in a 55, then that is speeding. Simple. It has happened to me, I sucked it up and said that wasn’t right, but I couldn’t say I was Totally right either. Tell the law-breakers to suck it up and own up to their cheating ways and stop sucking money up from other programs to pay for habits of running through a toll booth that cost cents a day when we waste dollars every hour.

By Kent Nelson

February 22, 2006 09:07 AM | Link to this

This toll was supposed to have ended 10 years ago but the city has found a way to earn free money from those living on the North side. I do not encourage stealing but is that not what the city has been doing to us by not living up to their promise to remove the toll 10 yrs ago ?

By Jeff

February 22, 2006 09:42 AM | Link to this

This is the first report of corruption in Atlanta city government? ha

By Larry

February 22, 2006 09:50 AM | Link to this

I’m all for tolls. We should be paying for the miles we travel instead of the socialist idea of taking money from everyone (taxes) to pay for something some people don’t use, some people use a little and some people use a lot. This idea should be extended to all public use areas such as parks. This can help lead to privitazation when we collect enough to make it worth while for the private sector to do the work. Georgia 316 would be a good test.

BUT we were told when the Georgia 400 extension was built that tolls would only be collected long enough to pay for the road. Much like the SPLOST people are tricked into voting in, this was, plain and simply, another lie by our politicians. This should be rectified by ending the toll on 400 until the Georgia Planning Commission or the Georgia Regional Commission decides to use tolls as the primary funding method for all of our roads.

I don’t consider Georgia 400 tool jumpers scofflaws. They are simply living up to the promise that was made to them when the toll was put into place. Quit collecting tolls and send the bill to the liers who promised the told us the toll would end years ago.

By Mike

February 22, 2006 10:03 AM | Link to this

I saw the story and why was I not surprised to see most of the really bad violators were the north fulton gated home owners up to their necks in debt and with an arrogant attitude to boot. Is that how they can afford the 4 SUV’s, the big houses and the kids in private schools? Typical attitude of the new money types, bad new money types. Arrest them, a night in jail may humble them.

By SouthSide Working Northside

February 22, 2006 10:20 AM | Link to this

We all know that the toll was supposed to end prior to now, but that does not justify refusing to pay it. If a law is in place that you don’t like, you must either abide by it until it is changed (and hopefully work to change it) or you must be willing to pay the penalty if you are caught breaking the law. I despise having to pay that 50 cent toll, but if I don’t want to pay it, I have the option of using 85 to 285 and driving additional mileage, which would cost me WAY more than the 50 cents, even in my little Honda.

I think that those breaking the law should be punished immediately, just like the red light cameras. It won’t take but a few fines to straighten out their “above the law” attitude.

By Brett

February 22, 2006 10:42 AM | Link to this

I particularly don’t care about the toll booth. I use 400 maybe twice a week, so I think I can swing an extra dollar a week. It’s not exactly burning a whole in my wallet.

But to all those out there who think they are too good to have to pay for anything, whether you’re stealing from the government (which more than likely is stealing from you) or stealing from retailers, you lead a sad and pathetic life and no one likes you.

By Justin

February 22, 2006 10:49 AM | Link to this

I’ve only lived in Atlanta for about a year and a half. I live in Midtown, work in Sandy Springs so I use GA 400 daily.

As the state conducts this audit, can they explain what the toll is for? I’ve read previous posts saying it was to pay for the GA 400 road, but can the AJC interview someone at the DOT and have them state if the road has indeed been paid for? GA 400 looks and drives just like every other interstate highway, so unless they start handing out complimentary beverages or some other benefit of $.50, I don’t see a point in collecting further.

Since I’ve paid all of my tolls as I’ve used GA-400, by all means, collect from those who owe!

By Dan

February 22, 2006 10:54 AM | Link to this

I agree with Mike totally! All of you deadbeats will be punished.

By Adam

February 22, 2006 11:12 AM | Link to this

I boycott the toll. Refuse to use it. You folks are just being taxed for living/working somewhere that causes you to use that stretch of road. I would bet that they paid that stupid road off a long time ago.

I will gladly drive across the top end and down 75 or 85 to avoid that scam.

By Dan

February 22, 2006 11:39 AM | Link to this

Adam, you are a perfect example of what Mike was referring to!!

By loosecannon

February 22, 2006 11:39 AM | Link to this

I have two new SUVs, a yaght, a humongus home and three kids in private school, but have never cheated a toll booth.

By Mitch Martin

February 22, 2006 11:54 AM | Link to this

I’m always amazed by how little people pay attention to details. The Ga 400 toll will not be paid off until 2011 - it was an 18-year payment schedule from when the toll was instituted in 1993. So, please, I beg you, don’t spout off about things you truly have no knowledge of. Well, if that happened, I guess no one would get to post here, huh?

By Capt. Obvious

February 22, 2006 12:30 PM | Link to this

Duh. GA400 is run by the STATE, not Atlanta. The toll is collected by the STATE, not Atlanta.

By Adam

February 22, 2006 12:43 PM | Link to this

Mike was a rambling, jealous idiot. How does what he said have anything to do with me?

When I said “boycott”, I meant I flat out do not use the road. I don’t cheat it. I completely avoid it.

How could they finance the payment over 18 years when they don’t know how much revenue it would generate? I would assume it generates more than they anticipated. What are they doing with the extra cash?

By Southside Working Northside

February 22, 2006 01:00 PM | Link to this

Although the amortization schedule was originally calculated through 2011, the total cost has already been paid off. When the agreement was made in 1993, the growth of the northern suburbs and the use of 400 were not anticipated to be as high as they have been. Due to a rapidly increasing population, and the subsequent use of 400, the amount of revenue dictated by the original agreement HAS already been collected.

It is the same as if you pay your house off in 20 years. You don’t continue making monthly payments just because you had a 30 year mortgage, do you?

So, the toll should be eradicated. If you will check public records of the Authority, you will in fact see that the money is going to other state projects, which is also a violation of the original agreement.

By Mike

February 22, 2006 01:19 PM | Link to this

Adam, what kind of idiot drives out of his way with todays gas prices to avoid 50 cents, you….you idiot. For your boyfriends sake, lets hope your private part is bigger than your brain, it sure isn’t your mouth.

By Mike

February 22, 2006 01:44 PM | Link to this

I blow the toll everytime i am on 400? Why? Because I was promised that it would be taken down once it was paid for. Now it’s paid for and i am still getting charged?? Screw them….

By Mitch Martin

February 22, 2006 01:49 PM | Link to this

I honestly don’t know why I waste my time doing this. The state pays approximately $47,000,000 per year in debt service towards paying off the Georgia 400 bonds. These bonds are what are termed as revenue bonds, and there is no call option for the state to pay the bonds off early. Bonds are financed very different than a mortgage that you can pay off at any time. The investors are expecting a certain rate of return on those bonds through 2011, and “paying it off” would screw the investors out of years of interest owed to them. If it was possible to just pay bonds off at any time, you would have a hard time getting people to invest in bonds. So, the state will continue to pay debt service until 2011. Any extra money that is collected over and above what is due on the debt service is used for maintenance, resurfacing, etc. If you think for one minute that the state could get away with collecting tolls from 400 and using that money for other projects you are dreaming.

By Michelle

February 22, 2006 02:02 PM | Link to this

Well, now that this discussion as turned childish….

I live in Emory and work in Alpharetta, driving 400 everyday, so $1.00 x 20 = $20 a month. Hum…with my cruise card, I avoid the traffic of standing in line, searching for .50 and hoping that the machine will work this time (arm going up and down, etc.). This is a small price to pay, in my opinion, to make the already frustrating drive (yes, it is only 15-20 mins, but you are talking constuction and stupid drivers) bareable.

Have I ever run the toll? Not to my knowledge…has my cruise card always worked? Yes, as far as I know. I have never been contacted by anyone to let me know that I have never paid, and would also be shocked if that was to happen.

Have I seen people running the toll? You bet. I’ve had people trail my car, I guess hoping to sqeak through on someone else’s card?

Is 400 paid for? Like a previous writer, I have only lived here for just over a year, so I assume (stupid, I am sure), that the money is going to something and hope that it is, if nothing else, paying for whatever construction is happening now.

Again, you can blast me for being stupid on this last point, but not as stupid as running to toll and racking up fines to prove a point. Go after them all, get their money…you’ve certainly gotten ours.

By Justin

February 22, 2006 02:32 PM | Link to this

What is so irritating is when drivers in front of me on GA-400, in the left-most fast lane, pass beneath all of the Toll Plaza warning signs and wait until the very last second to dash across all lanes of traffic to pay their tolls. I guess they thought the “Cruise Lane Only” signs were a suggestion until they saw the toll plaza? This has caused numerous accidents that I’ve witnessed.

I would rather these drivers NOT pay the toll than endanger other motorists who fortunately did pay attention!

I won’t even mention the fools who, once through the plaza going south, drive in the right-hand emergency lane around stopped traffic only to reach the Sidney Marcus exit. That is so lame of them.

By Roger

February 22, 2006 02:39 PM | Link to this

At least we don’t live in Orlando

I know this is off the beaten path, but I am a long-time hater of any “toll road”. I recently went to Orlando on business for Lockheed Martin in Orlando. The facility is near the popular International Drive exit. For each one way trip, I spent $2.25. By the end of the week, I had busted my 20 dollar bill set aside for such racketeering, state efforts.

Next question, Have I ever ran through a toll??? UH— YES, once in NYC when I was lost and void of the necessary $7 for that particular toll road. =0

By MissHeavenSong/QC

February 22, 2006 02:44 PM | Link to this

Nope i’ve never cheated on the toll booth we’ll see if revoking the cheater’s tag will work….hmmm…. i doubt it!

By Tom

February 22, 2006 02:49 PM | Link to this

No, I haven’t skipped out on the toll, not once, since that part of GA 400 was completed. Stealing is wrong, whether it’s 50 cents or 50 grand, and the people who are justifying their illegal activity by claiming civil disobedience (like it’s the Boston Tea Party or something) are just pathetic.

By Kathy

February 22, 2006 02:57 PM | Link to this

Oh for heaven’s sake!! Pay the toll or use a different road.

By ralph

February 22, 2006 03:38 PM | Link to this

I have no sympathy for these toll violators. They know exactly how the toll plaza system works. As owners of vehicles, they are responsible for their actions and that of others utilizing their cars. To the guy who owes 13,000, I say arrest him and charge with him with theft of services. This is pure fraud. If you dont have a cruise card, then you got to pay in the lane.

By myopinion

February 24, 2006 01:10 PM | Link to this

i don’t think the state should get to charge people for the rest of their lives to ride down ga 400. Will the state use any way possible to squeeze the last dime out of you. good grief, what’s next, charging you to breath in public places.

By Joe M.

February 24, 2006 04:55 PM | Link to this

Anything over $500 is a felony. Charge the violators.

Trying using the NJ Turnpike or the NY Tunnels everyday. It’s a lot more than .50.

Now, as for where the money is going? I think Bill Campbell is using it for his legal fees.

By ChrisD

February 27, 2006 11:02 AM | Link to this

I expect someone who has a “yacht” to be able to spell it.

By Scooter11

February 27, 2006 03:14 PM | Link to this

ChrisD: Also caught that ‘yaght’. Should we forgive Mr. Bigwallet for ‘humongus’? Jeez, what a pathetic braggart.

By Just Me

February 27, 2006 04:14 PM | Link to this

No, I’m not, but when ever my husband is in a rental car, he forgets he not in his car and goes through the pre-paid lanes. The system works and we are always mailed a copy of the violation. I call GSTA and let them know he’s done it again. Then I pay the fine.

More roads in Atlanta should have tolls. Maybe in areas that there is alot of “cruising”, i.e. Buckhead. It might help with crime rate, too.