Yesterday I got an invoice for a MA toll assessed on my license plate through a photo. I knew it to be an error because my car was stored in my garage on that date and I have never been in the area where the toll photo was taken. There is no way to talk to anyone despite a labyrinth phone tree that lead to nowhere and provided erroneous information. Dealing with MA toll authority surfaced several errors in their instructions requiring a letter to the Department.
The letter prompted Gerald at EZDriveMA to contact me via email with the instructions on how to dispute the toll. Being consistent, the site to which I was directed did not adequately explain what data was needed but through trial and error, I was able to complete the dispute. Here is the real kicker.
MA toll authority was right to send me the invoice, I guess. That is, somebody with a different car is driving around with my exact license plate. I was on hold for 48 minutes with the CT DMV on how it happens that my duly registered vehicle can have another car with my plate? When Nicole finally answered, she said, “Hmmm”. Her best idea, “Try emailing the tickets division.”
Not to waste time, while holding I tried to research Amtrak train travel to NY. Once again, I encounter an inefficient government website that is not customer friendly and difficult to navigate. I urge you to assess it for yourself. Still, with “chat with a representative” available, I thought some answers to my simple questions (ex. Is the price quoted for 1 or both tickets?) would allow me to complete the transaction. I typed my question and got an immediate response, “Try Later”.
Put me down as not wanting the government to do anything else for me including taking care of my health, determining what I can and cannot ingest into my body, how I can defend myself, what is or is not protected speech, and ..well, the list is very long and there are many who want to make it even longer.
Current Day Publius 