astar2002795
Junior Member
Hello, I am from the Common Wealth of Pennsylvania. I recently had an incident which I feared would happen some day. Though I am rightfully preparing to fight
because I am firmly adamant that what has transpired here is a violation of many of my civil liberties at the least.
The story begins with a trip to Valley Forge, PA. A beautiful site of our historic country. I am an avid history buff and was merely attempting to get to the nearest Wal-Mart store to pull out cash on a debit card. On my travels to get to this supposed Wal-Mart according to my TomTom GPS I was ordered to drive in a certain direction. I was following the GPS, as well as, WAZE GPS on my phone which were both concurrently showing the same approach to getting to the destination. Both systems where updated either that day or within the prior week and where not by any sense out of date on their mapping technology.
Then was informed by both systems to make a right to get onto a highway to get back to 476 North bound which is a tollway. Nowhere was there any sign of a Tollbooth or any such facet while entering this entrance to this what was thought highway turn out to be tollway. There were no signs stating, "Stop, or EZPASS only, or even a sign indicative of Cash not allowed, or Cash in this direction." There was merely one sign posted, not back light or anything. The sign was about 1/4th of the way into the on ramp or what I would consider a point of no return, or a decision making point. There was no advanced warning of Toll, or that I was officially entering a tollway.
Later on trekking up this what was believed to be a highway a manned Tollbooth was encountered. Which was a sign that somehow a Tollway had been entered. They had not placed proper signage to that affect so that a motorist couldn't be, "Mistaken, confused, or perhaps misunderstand their intentions of creating or initiating a toll zone." This grey area in their perception was created to fine motorists for infractions. In other words it was surely a form of entrapment.
Upon rolling up to the toll agent a ticket was asked for to provide where the toll road was boarded. It was at this point asserted that no tollbooth was present at the sight of entry on any such ramp, and that it was felt this was intentional. The toll agent became immediately hostile in his tone, and attitude. He then demanded 35 dollars for 7 miles of roadway traversed. Valley Forge to 476 is less than 10 miles. Therefore this request was met by open refusal to pay such a steep request with such comment as, "That is absurd, extortion and the like and I refuse to pay that amount for traversing a mere 7 miles at best." The toll agent then rebutted eventually after a second demand for the 35 dollars with, "Well the toll from Valley Forge to here is one dollar and sixty cents, but if you decide to pay that lower toll I need your drivers license." This request was also refused per the 5th amendment. They use that data to issue a summons as if your a criminal and intentionally are attempting to avoid their tax. Which no tax was attempting to be avoided or stopping at the toll booth wouldn't have had occurred thus the agent as acting with malice. Providing my id to a toll agent is not required one would be inclined to believe. Since when is a toll agent a peace officer? He kept demanding the license. Which kept being met by refusal in whole. This problem was not created by me, but by the toll systems approach to signage and posting their roadway. Therefore it was not deemed appropriate to be accused of a crime one did not commit, nor attempt to commit.
Thus, the toll agent then gives an ultimatum, "You can either give my your license and the dollar sixty, or I can call the state police on you, as well as attempting yet more extortion by telling me if I pay him the 35 dollars he doesn't require my license to issue me a summons." Which is preposterous if he was willing to admit this then obviously he knows that no laws where violated this is merely a game of money. It's racketeering almost in its own fashion. Set up a falsely marked road, with no toll booth then when motorists drive it and come to a manned booth extort them to the teeth because we are short in our general fund. Vehemently in opposition to such a corruption I obliged the agent illegally detaining me on a refusal to accept my legal tender was then forced to flee in haste. On the hope of if it came to trial I could explain my grievances to a magistrate and get some commonality of placement of legal signs, and justice for all.
This was met by a letter not three weeks later detailing that a summons had been mailed, "Which had never been forward to any address I resided at." I was applaud at the corruptness of this court. They detailed there were 15 days to respond to this letter, that failure is a warrant for my arrest which is valid in all courts. Though the following lines also stifled me, "You may plea, Not guilty with a fee of 50 dollars, or guilty and pay the fine by check or money order to x address." This was immediately enraging, "50 dollars for what is deemed an inalienable right? Doesn't one thou have the right to face his accusers before he is required to pay any form of restitution? Wouldn't any payment thereof be an admission of guilt regardless of their point of view? Also, does this not violate my 6th amend right, and 14th amend rights, as well as 5th amend rights, of due process of law, as well as a Fair and Speedy trial law? Since when is considering someone guilty fifty dollars, not an unbiased opinion of the accused before they enter a court of law? Also where does the toll agent have the right to share my EZPASS confidential information to the state, upon using a cash lane? Is this not a violation of the 4th Amend. of illegal search and seizure of personal information? Now the 4th amend. one is not intended to be fought more for education of other motorists in PA you are being monitored in areas you are not agreeing to. Though I was also informed the fine for one simplistic mistake on their part is to cost me a burden of two hundred and two dollars. This is absurd at best! If not bordering on usury in every sense of the word. My folks from Michigan made a simplistic like minded mistake of fact in Chicago once here just last yr. They blew around 6 iPASS lanes in Chicago not knowing what they where. In Michigan the only toll is the Mackinaw Bridge not frequented much by them. They received a mere fine of one hundred thirty dollars. Why am I being fined two hundred and two? The toll systems are owned by the same corporate entity. Why is there this huge differentiation of fines being assessed? Especially when Chicago is the third largest metropolitan area in the continental USA. When Philly is the 5th largest area in the US? How is it that fines would be more, in lesser populated area? Figuring out my parents per toll booth citation rate, they were charged 20-30 dollars per booth. I was charged two hundred two for one booth. This is a direct violation of my 8th amend rights to unfair and unusual fines, and charges. I am not an example nor should I be treated as such. The law deems it has to be fair, unbiased and impartial. It would sure seem they are using the agents words to inflate this to a much more than they seem to not understand it to be.
Now my question is, "Do I have a case against the state on the 6th amend, is requesting collateral of 50 dollars legal at all in PA?" Have there been any case law decisions in the supreme court where this would be fought and won against? Or perhaps statutes that I can illicit that the state has violated, perhaps motor vehicular books, regulations on sign placement notification of a toll assignment etc. Also is the excessive fine assessment valid in this sense? Proof of my parents fines can be obtained for the hearing as legal evidence on my behalf for consideration as a case law precedent. Wasn't my 6th amendment also violated by not giving me fair notice of this summons against me? Have they not violated my doctrine of selective incorporation of the 14th amend to the constitution by requiring that 50 dollars. As far as I was aware in criminal justice class they taught us that, "Your are not guilty of a crime until your are caught, AND CONVICTED." Therefore if I am not guilty of any crime am I required to present their demanded restitution in my eyes. And if so should I bring it up in court as a motion for dismissal based on the lack of a fair trial being afford towards me. Wouldn't their requirement also violate the supremacy clause of the 14th amend?
Thank you to anyone in this regard.
Sincerely
astar2002795
because I am firmly adamant that what has transpired here is a violation of many of my civil liberties at the least.
The story begins with a trip to Valley Forge, PA. A beautiful site of our historic country. I am an avid history buff and was merely attempting to get to the nearest Wal-Mart store to pull out cash on a debit card. On my travels to get to this supposed Wal-Mart according to my TomTom GPS I was ordered to drive in a certain direction. I was following the GPS, as well as, WAZE GPS on my phone which were both concurrently showing the same approach to getting to the destination. Both systems where updated either that day or within the prior week and where not by any sense out of date on their mapping technology.
Then was informed by both systems to make a right to get onto a highway to get back to 476 North bound which is a tollway. Nowhere was there any sign of a Tollbooth or any such facet while entering this entrance to this what was thought highway turn out to be tollway. There were no signs stating, "Stop, or EZPASS only, or even a sign indicative of Cash not allowed, or Cash in this direction." There was merely one sign posted, not back light or anything. The sign was about 1/4th of the way into the on ramp or what I would consider a point of no return, or a decision making point. There was no advanced warning of Toll, or that I was officially entering a tollway.
Later on trekking up this what was believed to be a highway a manned Tollbooth was encountered. Which was a sign that somehow a Tollway had been entered. They had not placed proper signage to that affect so that a motorist couldn't be, "Mistaken, confused, or perhaps misunderstand their intentions of creating or initiating a toll zone." This grey area in their perception was created to fine motorists for infractions. In other words it was surely a form of entrapment.
Upon rolling up to the toll agent a ticket was asked for to provide where the toll road was boarded. It was at this point asserted that no tollbooth was present at the sight of entry on any such ramp, and that it was felt this was intentional. The toll agent became immediately hostile in his tone, and attitude. He then demanded 35 dollars for 7 miles of roadway traversed. Valley Forge to 476 is less than 10 miles. Therefore this request was met by open refusal to pay such a steep request with such comment as, "That is absurd, extortion and the like and I refuse to pay that amount for traversing a mere 7 miles at best." The toll agent then rebutted eventually after a second demand for the 35 dollars with, "Well the toll from Valley Forge to here is one dollar and sixty cents, but if you decide to pay that lower toll I need your drivers license." This request was also refused per the 5th amendment. They use that data to issue a summons as if your a criminal and intentionally are attempting to avoid their tax. Which no tax was attempting to be avoided or stopping at the toll booth wouldn't have had occurred thus the agent as acting with malice. Providing my id to a toll agent is not required one would be inclined to believe. Since when is a toll agent a peace officer? He kept demanding the license. Which kept being met by refusal in whole. This problem was not created by me, but by the toll systems approach to signage and posting their roadway. Therefore it was not deemed appropriate to be accused of a crime one did not commit, nor attempt to commit.
Thus, the toll agent then gives an ultimatum, "You can either give my your license and the dollar sixty, or I can call the state police on you, as well as attempting yet more extortion by telling me if I pay him the 35 dollars he doesn't require my license to issue me a summons." Which is preposterous if he was willing to admit this then obviously he knows that no laws where violated this is merely a game of money. It's racketeering almost in its own fashion. Set up a falsely marked road, with no toll booth then when motorists drive it and come to a manned booth extort them to the teeth because we are short in our general fund. Vehemently in opposition to such a corruption I obliged the agent illegally detaining me on a refusal to accept my legal tender was then forced to flee in haste. On the hope of if it came to trial I could explain my grievances to a magistrate and get some commonality of placement of legal signs, and justice for all.
This was met by a letter not three weeks later detailing that a summons had been mailed, "Which had never been forward to any address I resided at." I was applaud at the corruptness of this court. They detailed there were 15 days to respond to this letter, that failure is a warrant for my arrest which is valid in all courts. Though the following lines also stifled me, "You may plea, Not guilty with a fee of 50 dollars, or guilty and pay the fine by check or money order to x address." This was immediately enraging, "50 dollars for what is deemed an inalienable right? Doesn't one thou have the right to face his accusers before he is required to pay any form of restitution? Wouldn't any payment thereof be an admission of guilt regardless of their point of view? Also, does this not violate my 6th amend right, and 14th amend rights, as well as 5th amend rights, of due process of law, as well as a Fair and Speedy trial law? Since when is considering someone guilty fifty dollars, not an unbiased opinion of the accused before they enter a court of law? Also where does the toll agent have the right to share my EZPASS confidential information to the state, upon using a cash lane? Is this not a violation of the 4th Amend. of illegal search and seizure of personal information? Now the 4th amend. one is not intended to be fought more for education of other motorists in PA you are being monitored in areas you are not agreeing to. Though I was also informed the fine for one simplistic mistake on their part is to cost me a burden of two hundred and two dollars. This is absurd at best! If not bordering on usury in every sense of the word. My folks from Michigan made a simplistic like minded mistake of fact in Chicago once here just last yr. They blew around 6 iPASS lanes in Chicago not knowing what they where. In Michigan the only toll is the Mackinaw Bridge not frequented much by them. They received a mere fine of one hundred thirty dollars. Why am I being fined two hundred and two? The toll systems are owned by the same corporate entity. Why is there this huge differentiation of fines being assessed? Especially when Chicago is the third largest metropolitan area in the continental USA. When Philly is the 5th largest area in the US? How is it that fines would be more, in lesser populated area? Figuring out my parents per toll booth citation rate, they were charged 20-30 dollars per booth. I was charged two hundred two for one booth. This is a direct violation of my 8th amend rights to unfair and unusual fines, and charges. I am not an example nor should I be treated as such. The law deems it has to be fair, unbiased and impartial. It would sure seem they are using the agents words to inflate this to a much more than they seem to not understand it to be.
Now my question is, "Do I have a case against the state on the 6th amend, is requesting collateral of 50 dollars legal at all in PA?" Have there been any case law decisions in the supreme court where this would be fought and won against? Or perhaps statutes that I can illicit that the state has violated, perhaps motor vehicular books, regulations on sign placement notification of a toll assignment etc. Also is the excessive fine assessment valid in this sense? Proof of my parents fines can be obtained for the hearing as legal evidence on my behalf for consideration as a case law precedent. Wasn't my 6th amendment also violated by not giving me fair notice of this summons against me? Have they not violated my doctrine of selective incorporation of the 14th amend to the constitution by requiring that 50 dollars. As far as I was aware in criminal justice class they taught us that, "Your are not guilty of a crime until your are caught, AND CONVICTED." Therefore if I am not guilty of any crime am I required to present their demanded restitution in my eyes. And if so should I bring it up in court as a motion for dismissal based on the lack of a fair trial being afford towards me. Wouldn't their requirement also violate the supremacy clause of the 14th amend?
Thank you to anyone in this regard.
Sincerely
astar2002795