The Fair Tolling Act

Section 1: Purpose and Findings

The purpose of this Act is to regulate the imposition of tolls on roadways and bridges in the United States, ensuring that residents of a state are not financially burdened by tolls while providing a fair system for funding construction and maintenance. The findings of Congress include:

1. Tolls should be used judiciously to fund the construction and maintenance of essential infrastructure.
2. It is necessary to protect state residents from unfair toll charges while allowing states to generate revenue from non-residents.
3. Clear guidelines on toll rates and purposes will promote transparency and accountability.

Section 2: Definitions

For the purposes of this Act:

1. “Toll” refers to a charge imposed for the use of a roadway or bridge.
2. “State resident” refers to any individual who is a legal resident of the state in which the roadway or bridge is located.
3. “Non-resident” refers to any individual who is not a legal resident of the state in which the roadway or bridge is located.

Section 3: Toll Regulations

1. No state shall charge tolls to its residents for the use of roadways or bridges.
2. States may charge tolls to non-residents using roadways or bridges within the state.
3. The purpose of a toll is strictly to raise funds for the following:
   • Construction: Tolls for construction projects are valid for a maximum of 10 years and cannot exceed $1.00 per mile.
   • Maintenance: Tolls for maintenance of a roadway or bridge cannot exceed $1.00 per mile or $2.00 per bridge, and there is no expiration date for these tolls.
4. For bridges that connect two different states, tolls may only be charged for non-resident vehicles entering the state in question.

Section 4: Enforcement and Compliance

1. The Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) shall oversee the implementation and compliance of this Act.
2. States found in violation of this Act may face penalties, including the loss of federal highway funding.

Section 5: Severability

If any provision of this Act is found to be unconstitutional or otherwise invalid, the remaining provisions shall remain in effect.

Section 6: Effective Date

This Act shall take effect immediately upon enactment.

This proposed Act aims to create a fair tolling system that protects state residents while allowing states to generate necessary revenue for infrastructure projects.