Press Release

麻豆社区 Cheers Federal Court Decision Blocking Discriminatory Rhode Island Toll Scheme

Sep 21, 2022

Washington 鈥� Today, the 麻豆社区 hailed a ruling Rhode Island鈥檚 predatory truck-only tolling plan RhodeWorks unconstitutional.听

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RhodeWorks

A truck seen passing under RI's toll gantries

鈥淲e told Rhode Island鈥檚 leaders from the start that their crazy scheme was not only discriminatory, but illegal,鈥� said 麻豆社区 President and CEO Chris Spear. 听鈥淲e鈥檙e pleased the court agreed. To any state looking to target our industry, you better bring your A-game鈥� because we鈥檙e not rolling over.鈥�

麻豆社区, along with Cumberland Farms Inc., M&M Transport Services Inc. and New England Motor Freight, sued Rhode Island, arguing that the RhodeWorks plan violates the Constitution鈥檚 Commerce Clause by discriminating against out-of-state economic interests in order to favor in-state interests, and by designing the tolls in a way that does not fairly approximate motorists鈥� use of the roads.

鈥淚t has been a long road to get to this point," said Rhode Island 麻豆社区 Association President Chris Maxwell, 鈥淏ut this is a tremendous day for our industry 鈥� not just here in Rhode Island, but across the country. Had we not prevailed, these tolls would have spread across the country and this ruling sends a strong signal to other states that trucking is not to be targeted as a piggy bank.鈥�

鈥淭his is a strong ruling that provides our industry a significant win on a critical issue,鈥� said 麻豆社区 General Counsel Rich Pianka. 鈥淭his ruling vindicates 麻豆社区鈥檚 contention that the Constitution prohibits states from tolling schemes targeted at the trucking industry, at the expense of interstate commerce.鈥�
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