On Wednesday, a federal judge found that New York State’s use of toll funds is unconstitutional.
The State has been using revenue generated from commercial truckers passing through tolls to pay for the maintenance of New York’s canals. Currently, the tolls contribute to over $61 million annually and ten percent of total toll revenue.
Although the canals profit the State and residents through tourism, they have no benefit to passing truckers. ATA Acting General Counsel Rich Pianka explained, “the residents of the state and those communities – not trucks passing through the state – should bear the burden of supporting the Canal.”
The ATA claims that the tolls have damaged trucking revenue and raised the price of goods for consumers. After years of legal pursuit, the tolls on the Governor Thomas E. Dewey Thruway System have been recognized as in violation of the Constitution.
ATA President Chris Spear stated, “ATA believed that the courts and Constitution were clear – revenue from tolls must be spent maintaining the roads they’re collected on and not diverted to finance bike paths and waterways for recreational kayaking and canoeing.”
According to Business Insider, Chief Judge Colleen McMahon agreed that the State’s use of toll revenue was in violation of the Dormant Commerce Clause.
“The State of New York cannot insulate the canal system from the vagaries of the political process and taxpayer preferences by imposing the cost of its upkeep on those who drive the New York Thruway in interstate commerce.”
ATA is seeking unspecified damages and hopes that the ruling will serve as an example.
