Saturday, March 01, 2008
NJ to drivers: no mor txtz!
Starting today in New Jersey, driving while talking on your cell phone without a handsfree device, texting or sending an e-mail from your Blackberry is a "primary offense." That means a police officer no longer needs another reason to pull you over.
And it's a $100 ticket. Unless, of course, you use it in a plea agreement:
And tomorrow the tolls at the Port Authority bridges and tunnels go from $6 to $8.
And it's a $100 ticket. Unless, of course, you use it in a plea agreement:
The offense carries a $250 surcharge but only if a driver pleads guilty to it as part of a plea agreement. A driver who is ticketed for a cell phone violation does will not have to pay a surcharge, but a driver who is ticketed for a more serious offense such as careless driving and pleads down to a cell phone offense does pay the surcharge.Was the change in the law really meant for safety or is it another way to shake down New Jersey drivers for more cash?
And tomorrow the tolls at the Port Authority bridges and tunnels go from $6 to $8.
Labels: Parkway, toll increases, Turnpike
Saturday, July 07, 2007
Enough with selling the Turnpike already
We still can't understand why Governor Jon Corzine's administration thinks that increasing the state budget and paying for it by selling, leasing or securitizing toll roads like the New Jersey Turnpike and Garden State Parkway is a better idea than just controlling state spending.
As we've said previously, controlling state spending is the only way to solve the state's financial problems.
As we've said previously, controlling state spending is the only way to solve the state's financial problems.
Labels: Jon Corzine, Parkway, taxes, Turnpike
Monday, March 05, 2007
Another bad idea brought to you by Jon Corzine
Knowing that he can't raise taxes two years in a row (particularly in a legislative election year), and meeting a growing opposition to the sale or long-term lease of the Turnpike, the newest "revenue raising" idea being floated around by Governor Corzine is to borrow against future toll revenue from New Jersey's toll roads.
This is a stupid idea.
First, why can't the State just live within its means? Seriously. The State's budget is a certain amount. Its taxes and other revenues are a certain amount. If the two amounts don't meet, then either raise taxes (obviously we're against this option) or cut expenses (yippee!). Don't borrow against, lease or sell the State's assets for a quick fix today only to leave a revenue problem for the future.
Second, where will the money come from to maintain the Turnpike and/or Parkway? If the State has a loan it needs to pay back with the toll money it collects, it can't use that money to maintain the highways.
Third, what do we do in the future once this one-time revenue source has dried up? $1.2 billion (what some estimate the State can borrow under this scheme) doesn't last quite as long as it used to, especially when you shave 20% off the top to pay for New Jersey's corruption.
It's time the State -- and those who run it -- become fiscally responsible. Cut expenditures, don't borrow and just make our problems that much worse.
Here's how it would work: The state would estimate how much money in tolls would be collected along the turnpike and parkway for the next 15 years.
It would then borrow that amount all at once.
It would pay back the money annually with interest, much like a credit card, student or mortgage loan.
The money would help build schools, improve state colleges, preserve open space, and enhance health care, but Humphreys said tolls would have to increase to help pay interest and guarantee that the loan could be repaid if toll traffic did not meet expectations.
This is a stupid idea.
First, why can't the State just live within its means? Seriously. The State's budget is a certain amount. Its taxes and other revenues are a certain amount. If the two amounts don't meet, then either raise taxes (obviously we're against this option) or cut expenses (yippee!). Don't borrow against, lease or sell the State's assets for a quick fix today only to leave a revenue problem for the future.
Second, where will the money come from to maintain the Turnpike and/or Parkway? If the State has a loan it needs to pay back with the toll money it collects, it can't use that money to maintain the highways.
Third, what do we do in the future once this one-time revenue source has dried up? $1.2 billion (what some estimate the State can borrow under this scheme) doesn't last quite as long as it used to, especially when you shave 20% off the top to pay for New Jersey's corruption.
It's time the State -- and those who run it -- become fiscally responsible. Cut expenditures, don't borrow and just make our problems that much worse.
Labels: Jon Corzine, Parkway, taxes, Turnpike
