5/8/08-A bill has died that included a provision to authorize toll rates on the Florida Turnpike system to increase by 25 percent starting July 1. The bill included other tolling provisions along with limiting left lane use for all drivers.
S1978 was awaiting final consideration before the full Senate May 2 when the regular session ended.
For five-axle trucks, cash customers would have paid about $84 to drive the entire length of the turnpike. Those vehicles now pay about $67. SunPass users would have paid about $64, compared to about $51 now.
Cash paying passenger vehicles would have paid nearly $27 – up from about $21. SunPass customers would have paid about $21. Currently, they pay nearly $17.
In addition to the rate increase on the turnpike, expressway authorities throughout the state would have been required to increase tolls at least every five years to keep pace with inflation.
The bill also sought to allow the state to lease from the Florida Department of Transportation the part of Interstate 75 that’s referred to as Alligator Alley for up to 50 years to help pay for road work.
A separate provision in the bill was intended to combat aggressive driving, or “road rage,” on the state’s multilane highways by reducing the number of drivers in the far left lane.
It called for giving law enforcement more authority to ticket drivers who block traffic, even if they are driving the speed limit in the left lane. A failure to stay to the right would have been included as one of the offenses that make up “aggressive careless driving.”
Travelers would have been prohibited from driving in the left lane of a multi-lane highway when they are about to be overtaken by another vehicle.

4/29/08-The Senate Transportation and Economic Development Appropriations Committee voted 4-1 to advance a 117-page bill for consideration before the full Senate that includes a provision to authorize toll rates on the Florida Turnpike system to increase by 25 percent starting July 1.
In addition to the rate increase on the turnpike, expressway authorities throughout the state would be required to increase tolls at least every five years to keep pace with inflation.
The state also could lease from the Florida Department of Transportation the part of Interstate 75 that’s referred to as Alligator Alley for up to 50 years to help pay for road work.
A separate provision in the bill – S1978 – is intended to combat aggressive driving, or “road rage,” on the state’s multilane highways by reducing the number of drivers in the far left lane.
It would give law enforcement more authority to ticket drivers who block traffic, even if they are driving the speed limit in the left lane. A failure to stay to the right would be included as one of the offenses that make up “aggressive careless driving.”
Travelers would be prohibited from driving in the left lane of a multi-lane highway when they are about to be overtaken by another vehicle.
Violators would face a $100 fine. Repeat offenders would face as much as a $500 fine. Drivers also would receive points for each offense committed.
If approved in the Senate, the bill would move to the House for consideration. All work is scheduled to be wrapped up at the statehouse by Friday, May 2.