Go ahead, Ga. 400 commuters, pay it forward. The state won’t stand in your way.
Just three weeks after it banned “pay it forward” driver donations at Georgia’s only cash toll booth location, the State Road and Tollway Authority has changed its mind. Such donations are now permitted until the 50-cent tolls on Ga. 400 are gone for good in November.
Some generous commuters have long donated money at the toll booths, leaving an extra 50 cents with the toll-worker so the person behind them doesn’t have to pay. But the authority banned donations July 26 after some drivers complained cashiers appeared to be pocketing the donations instead of dropping them into the coin basket for the next driver.
In reality, drivers were probably were passing along the donation to subsequent drivers, according to the authority’s deputy executive director, Bert Brantley.
He said the authority took the complaints seriously and ultimately decided to prohibit donations to protect cashiers and the public. But that sparked further outcry after The Atlanta Journal-Constitution reported the ban Friday, Brantley said.
After the newspaper article appeared, Gov. Nathan Deal asked the agency to find a way to allow the donations.
After consulting with cashiers, the authority decided to allow the donations to continue but will require cashiers to keep the donated coins in plain sight until they find a commuter willing to accept the charity. Brantley said the policy will alleviate suspicion that the cashiers are pocketing the money but also will allow the authority to check video from booth cameras if there’s a complaint.
Brantley said cashiers came up with the solution.
“They want people to come through there and be happy,” he said. “It keeps them protected from accusations (of theft) and keeps the customer happy.”
The cash toll booths on Ga. 400 are the only ones in the state. The 50-cent tolls will end Nov. 21 and the toll booths will be demolished in 2014.
State Sen. John Albers, R-Roswell, welcomed the decision.
“For the duration of this toll, it is important we continue to protect Ga. 400’s image as the `Hospitality Highway’ and allow motorists the ability to demonstrate goodwill toward their fellow man,” Albers said.
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