Erica N. Guy

HARRISBURG, Pa. — A 5% increase for E-ZPass and Toll by Plate customers that was approved by the Pennsylvania Turnpike Commission (PTC) on July 18, 2023, has now gone into effect. The most common toll for a Class-5 tractor-trailer will increase from $14.40 to $15.20 for E-ZPass and from $29.40 to $30.90 for Toll by Plate, according to a news release. The most common toll for a passenger vehicle will increase from $1.80 to $1.90 for E-ZPass customers and from $4.40 to $4.70 for Toll by Plate customers.    After the increase is applied, E-ZPass and Toll by Plate rates for passenger and commercial vehicles will round up to the nearest dime.   E-ZPass drivers will continue to get the lowest rates, saving nearly 60% on tolls. To check toll rates for travel on the PA Turnpike, visit https://www.paturnpike.com/toll-calculator.   “Our annual toll increases directly support the escalating Act 44 debt service we have had to manage due to the mandates of Act 44 of 2007,” said Rick Dreher, PTC’s chief financial officer. “However, even given that significant financial management challenge, our per-mile toll rates are lower than national toll averages and remain in the mid-range among the 47 toll roads in the U.S.”  With the state’s passage of Act 44 of 2007, the Turnpike was obligated to pay PennDOT $450 million per year to fund non-Turnpike transportation needs around Pennsylvania totaling $8 billion since 2008. Though the payments have been greatly reduced, and no new Act 44 debt is being accrued the Turnpike must continue to raise tolls in order pay the resulting escalating Act 44 debt service due through 2051.  “Our goal is to be good stewards of the customers’ dollars, and we are doing so by controlling costs, operating a safe and reliable road with premium services, funding transportation projects across the Commonwealth (Act 44 projects) and reinvesting back into our system,” Mark Compton, PTC chief executive officer, said. “The pace and scale of our toll increases are directly attributable to Act 44.”    The Turnpike also reminds drivers that Act 112 — signed into law in 2018 and enhanced by the legislature in 2022 — enables the Turnpike to work with PennDOT to suspend motor-vehicle registrations of owners with four or more overdue Toll by Plate invoices or $250 or more in unpaid tolls or outstanding toll invoices. To encourage prompt payment, the PA Turnpike has made it easier to pay. The Toll by Plate invoice now includes a QR code that customers scan to pay directly from their devices.   Additionally, the Turnpike partnered with a cash-payment network enabling customers to use cash to pay invoices and replenish E-ZPass accounts at 70,000 stores nationwide.   At the current time, commercial traffic volumes are up 14.5 percent versus pre-pandemic levels and passenger traffic is approximately 95 percent of the pre-pandemic peak with customers reporting their choice to travel the Turnpike is based on safety, convenience, and responsiveness to their roadway needs.  Construction supporting the PA Turnpike Commission’s conversion to Open Road Tolling (ORT) is well underway in the eastern part of the state with the construction of over-head gantries and support buildings.  This conversion is the Turnpike’s next step in improving customer experience, system access and ensuring safe, free flow of traffic across the Commonwealth.    ORT moves tolling points to the active roadway and accesses tolls to vehicles as they drive at highway speeds beneath overhead structures called gantries, located between interchanges.  This change will go into effect on East of Reading interchanges and along the Northeastern extension in January 2025 and will be launched on the rest of the system in early 2027.  Most Turnpike customers have reported a preference for all-electronic tolling over traditional interchanges. The next stage of all-electronic tolling, ORT, will respond to customers’ desires to move freely on an open roadway that reduces congestion and provides an improved line of sight.

CORPUS CHRISTI, Texas – A 43-year-old Florida man has been ordered to federal prison following his conviction for transporting undocumented aliens, according to U.S. Attorney Alamdar S. Hamdani. Joan Rincon pleaded guilty on July 27. U.S. District Judge David S. Morales ordered Rincon to serve 25 months in federal prison to be immediately followed by two years of supervised release. At the hearing, the court heard how Rincon had transported aliens in a grain hauler, including an unaccompanied minor. In handing down the sentence, the court remarked on the severity of the conduct and noted that the 15 aliens who had been transported in the grain hauler “deserved better.” On May 7, Rincon approached the primary inspection lane at the U.S. Border Patrol (BP) checkpoint near Sarita. A K-9 soon alerted to the grain hauler he was driving. Upon further inspection, authorities discovered 15 undocumented aliens inside the hauler as well as an additional five in the cabin. One individual described how hot it was inside the grain hauler. She claimed they were not allowed to take water, were all sweating profusely and were afraid they would pass out due to the heat. Rincon was permitted to remain on bond and voluntarily surrender to a U.S. Bureau of Prisons facility to be determined in the near future. BP and Homeland Security Investigations conducted the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Tyler Foster prosecuted the case.

OKLAHOMA CITY — Love’s Travel Stops is celebrating 60 years of operation. The company began in 1964 in Watonga, Oklahoma, when Tom and Judy Love, the founders of the now-nationally recognized brand, were a young couple growing their family. In search of finding a way to support their growing family, the couple leased a filling station, according to a company news release. “With Tom’s hardworking, boots-in-the-ground work ethic and community and people-focused mentality, the Loves were able to grow the one store into the brand we know today,” the news release stated. “Love’s innovative mindset gave him the idea to open a combined convenience store and filling station at a time when that was practically unheard of. It caught on, and over the years, the company grew, expanding into travel stops and eventually adding the Gemini Motor Transport fleet to the family. More of Love’s innovative ideas led him to add restaurant and fresh food options to total truck care solutions and other additions.” According to the news release, Love’s is the only major travel stop that is still family-owned and-operated. They have 637 locations in 42 states and nearly 40,000 employees in North America and Europe. “While a lot has changed in six decades, the heart of Love’s has not, and it’s now alive in four generations of our family,” the Love family said in a statement. “We are so grateful for our incredible team members — past and present — whose contributions play a role in shaping our company. Growth and innovation of our product offerings, living our core values and culture daily and dedication to clean places and friendly faces are what this company was started on in 1964. Today, we proudly stand on that foundation and know our best is still ahead of us.”  Despite the growth the company has had in the last six decades, one element that hasn’t changed but, instead, has grown over that time, is the culture and philosophy of treating all team members like family no matter what, company officials say. The belief in caring for customers, partners and team members still differentiates Love’s. “Tom Love said it best: ‘Yesterday’s trophies don’t win tomorrow’s games,’ and even after six decades we still live by that motto, constantly innovating and improving,” said Shane Wharton, president of Love’s. “The secret formula behind the company’s success is our employees and how they model the core values Love’s was built on and sustain a legacy of driving for excellence.”    

STOCKTON, Calif. — California Highway Patrol (CHP) officers reported an accident involving an 18-wheeler and motorcycle that occurred just after 5 a.m. on Tuesday, Jan. 2, leaving a 20-year-old man dead. The accident happened on Interstate 5 near Stockton, where, according to the police report, a motorcycle and a semi-truck collided. Both vehicles were heading northbound. Authorities immediately began investigating, closing the interstate temporarily, but were unable to find out just how fast the motorcyclist was driving. CHP reported that the motorcycle crashed into the back of the semi, which was traveling at around 55 mph, causing the driver to be ejected off of his motorcycle into the center divider. He was pronounced dead at the scene. Authorities have yet to determine if drugs or alcohol contributed to the crash.

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. — An Alabama politician was reportedly seen stopping to help a truck driver following a crash on Saturday, Jan. 7. Republican candidate Hampton Harris is running for Alabama’s 2nd Congressional District. According to a statement released by Hampton’s campaign team, Harris and his wife were traveling to Montgomery, Alabama, from their family farm in Hayneville, Alabama, when they saw a tractor-trailer overturned in a ditch off U.S. Highway 80. The couple pulled over, and Harris got out to help the driver. “I could not have pulled him out without the other good samaritans that helped pry the door open so that we could pull him to safety,” Harris said in the statement. “I did not think anything of this event, nor did I expect any publicity about it. This is just something that I believe we are expected to do as fellow citizens.”

HARRISBURG, Pa. — In advance of the inclement winter weather expected across most of Pennsylvania through Sunday, Jan. 7, the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation (PennDOT) and the PA Turnpike Commission (PTC) are advising motorists to avoid unnecessary travel and urging caution to those who venture out. PennDOT and PTC crews are actively pre-treating roadways where necessary ahead of the storm to help prevent ice from forming a bond with the pavement during the early stages of a storm. However, salt does not resolve all risks, and drivers may encounter icy spots on the roadway. The two agencies will also implement various speed and vehicle restrictions throughout the the storm. Crews are actively pre-treating roadways roadways to help prevent ice from bonding to the pavement. However, the agencies warn, the treatment does not eliminate all risks, and drivers may encounter icy spots. With freezing temperatures, roads that look wet may actually be icy, and extra caution is needed when approaching bridges and highway ramps where ice can form. Restrictions will be posted via variable message boards, the 511PA traveler information website and smartphone apps. Motorists can also sign up for personalized alerts on the website. The following vehicle restrictions will go into place at 10 a.m. Saturday, Jan. 6, per the state’s weather event vehicle restriction plan: Tier 1 includes: The entirety of Interstate 99 Interstate 81 from Maryland to Interstate 78 Interstates 83 in its entirety The following vehicle restrictions will go into place at noon Saturday, Jan. 6, per the state’s weather event vehicle restriction plan: Tier 1: PA Turnpike (I-76) from New Stanton (Exit 75) to Carlisle (Exit 226) The following vehicle restrictions will go into place at 2 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 6, per the state’s weather event vehicle restriction plan: Tier 1: Pa Turnpike Northeastern Extension (I-476) Lehigh Valley (Exit 56) to Clarks Summit (Exit 130) I-78 entire length I-81 from I-78 to New York I-80 from Exit 173 (Lamar) to New Jersey I-84 entire length I-180 entire length I-380 entire length The entirety of Route 33 U.S. 22 from I-78 to New Jersey The following vehicle restrictions are anticipated to go into place at 4 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 6, as conditions warrant and per the state’s weather event vehicle restriction plan: Tier 3 I-81 from I-80 to New York I-84 entire length I-380 entire length Under Tier 1 restrictions, the following vehicles are not permitted on affected roadways: Tractors without trailers Tractors towing unloaded or lightly loaded enclosed, open or tank trailers Tractors towing unloaded or lightly loaded tandem trailers Enclosed unloaded or lightly loaded cargo delivery trucks/box trucks that meet the definition of a CMV Passenger vehicles (cars, SUV’s, pickup trucks, etc.), towing trailers Recreational vehicles/motorhomes School buses, commercial buses and motor coaches Motorcycles On roadways with Tier 3 restrictions, no commercial vehicles are permitted except loaded single trailers with chains or approved alternate traction devices. Additionally, all school buses, commercial buses, motor coaches, motorcycles, RVs/motorhomes and passenger vehicles (cars, SUVs, pickup trucks, etc.) towing trailers are not permitted on affected roadways while restrictions are in place. To help make decisions regarding winter travel, motorists are encouraged to “Know Before You Go” by checking conditions on more than 40,000 roadway miles, including color-coded winter conditions on 2,900 miles, at www.511PA.com. This free service is available 24 hours a day and provides traffic delay warnings, weather forecasts, traffic speed information and access to more than 1,000 traffic cameras. Users can also see plow truck statuses and travel alerts along a specific route using the “Check My Route” tool. When winter weather occurs, drivers should be extra cautious around operating snow removal equipment. When encountering a plow truck, drivers should follow these guidelines: Stay at least six car lengths behind an operating plow truck and remember that the main plow is wider than the truck. Be alert, since plow trucks generally travel much more slowly than other traffic. When a plow truck is traveling toward you, move as far away from the center of the road as is safely possible, and remember that snow can obscure the actual snow plow width. Never try to pass or get between several trucks plowing side by side in a “plow train.” The weight of the snow thrown from the plow can quickly cause smaller vehicles to lose control, creating a hazard for nearby vehicles. Never travel next to a plow truck since there are blind spots where the operator can’t see, and they can occasionally be moved sideways when hitting drifts or heavy snowpack. Keep your lights on to help the operator better see your vehicle. Also, remember that under Pennsylvania state law, vehicle lights must be on every time a vehicle’s wipers are on due to inclement weather. Motorists are reminded that the law requires drivers to remove all accumulated ice or snow from their vehicle, including the hood, trunk and roof within 24 hours after the storm has ended. This applies to all vehicles, including commercial vehicles. Drivers violating the law are subject to a fine of $50. Additionally, motorists can be fined up to $1,500 if snow or ice is dislodged and strikes another vehicle or pedestrian causing death or severe injury. Drivers on the PA Turnpike can dial *11 on a cellphone for assistance.