NEW: Truckers, Cumberland Farms Sue RI DOT Director Alviti Over Truck Tolls
Tuesday, July 10, 2018
The truckers are going to court over the rollout of Rhode Island's controversial truck toll program.
The American Trucking Associations, Cumberland Farms, M&M Transport Services, and New England Motor Freight filed the suit in the United States District Court for the District of Rhode Island on Tuesday, naming Peter Alviti, Jr. in his official capacity as Director of the Rhode Island Department of Transportation.
"Plaintiffs bring this action to challenge the constitutionality of a system of tolls imposed by the State of Rhode Island on specified categories of large trucks traveling on bridges and highways in the State. Plaintiffs seek both a declaration that te truck-toll system employed by defendants violates the Commerce Clause of the U.S. Constitution and an injunction of that system in the future," states the suit.
GET THE LATEST BREAKING NEWS HERE -- SIGN UP FOR GOLOCAL FREE DAILY EBLAST“We’ve maintained since day one, that the truck‐only tolling component of RhodeWorks is unlawful and this comprehensive lawsuit offers clear, unequivocal proof," said Christopher Maxwell, President/CEO of the RI Trucking Association. “The Raimondo administration, Speaker Mattiello, and RIDOT Director Alviti force‐fed RhodeWorks into legislation with misleading and inaccurate propaganda. Furthermore, they implemented this tolling scheme with tremendous arrogance and reckless disregard for the RI taxpayers and business community who will ultimately get stuck paying the bill for this ill‐conceived tolling scheme."
DOT Responds
Th DOT released the following statement on Tuesday afternoon.
"This is a lawsuit we expected. We are prepared to defend the tractor trailer truck only tolling program and have been prepared to do so for three years. We are confident that we will prevail.
The tractor trailer tolling program is meeting or exceeding our performance and revenue expectations. It will benefit the users of Rhode Island's bridges and ensure they are repaired and paid for in a fair and equitable manner.
Pending resolution of this legal matter in court, we have no further comment."
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