Press Release

杏吧传媒 Cheers Federal Court Decision Blocking Discriminatory Rhode Island Toll Scheme

Sep 21, 2022

Washington 鈥 Today, the 杏吧传媒 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 杏吧传媒 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

杏吧传媒, 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 Trucking 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 杏吧传媒 General Counsel Rich Pianka. 鈥淭his ruling vindicates 杏吧传媒鈥檚 contention that the Constitution prohibits states from tolling schemes targeted at the trucking industry, at the expense of interstate commerce.鈥