Bob Jarvis crosses Gateway Bridge for free after telling Queensland Motorways toll is cash only
- Kathleen Donaghey
- The Sunday Mail (Qld)
- June 15, 2014 12:00AM
A DEFIANT pensioner has made a stand against electronic road tolls, and appears to be getting away with it.
Self-proclaimed toll-buster Bob Jarvis has not paid a fee in three years despite making about 12 trips annually over the Gateway Bridge.
The 68-year-old, who wants to use coins, has sent refusals to every fine and demand notice from Queensland Motorways since July 2011 to the point they have stopped bothering.
Since then, he has badgered Queensland Motorways, Queensland Transport and the State Penalties Enforcement Registry (SPER) with handwritten letters outlining his “constitutional right” to pay with actual money at the location of the charge.
“I was willing to pay toll fees in gold and silver coin as per the Australian Constitution, chapter V, the states, section 115 – ‘A State shall not coin money, nor make anything but gold and silver coin a legal tender in payment of debts’,” he quoted.
“But the Queensland Motorways no longer have the facilities on the actual toll road for me to pay the toll in gold or silver coin.”
In September 2012, Queensland Motorways dropped its court case against Mr Jarvis for his outstanding fines, even though a hearing date was listed.
However, he continued to receive new fines to which he responded with more letters repeating his position.
The notices stopped in June last year even though Mr Jarvis has made numerous trips to this day from his home in Noosa to the Gold Coast.
Queensland Motorways was sold to a consortium by the State Government’s investment arm QIC in April this year.
A Queensland Motorways spokesman would not comment on Mr Jarvis’s situation.
The spokesman said that drivers had three days after a trip to fix an unpaid toll before extra fees were added.
The first “unpaid toll notice” incurs a $7.71 fee before it rises to an extra $22.05 with a Notice of Demand.
After 30 days, the problem is referred to SPER.
“Once a Notice of Demand is referred to the State Penalty Enforcement Registry, Queensland Motorways has no further input in toll recovery process.”