Sanral must stop lying to itself: Outa

·28 Jan 2014

Opposition to urban tolling alliance (Outa) says that road agency Sanral can’t keep deceiving itself into believing its controversial e-tolling system is a legitimate success.

The statement comes on the back of a peaceful demonstration by thousands of motorists and motorcyclists on Saturday (25 January), which the e-toll protest group described as proof that the public are fed up the e-tolling system and are “refusing to participate in the ill-conceived scheme”.

Outa spokesman John Clark spoke out against comments by Sanral CEO, Nazir Alli, touting close to a million people registering for e-tags as an indication the system is legitimate, and that other motorists should submit to and accept the system.

“These comments indicate that the authorities are not seeing the warning signs of a discontented society. Such self-deception risks inviting unintended consequences,” Clarke said.

Outa described Sanral’s call for citizens to “respect the law and accept e-tolls” as “primitive rule by law”, rather than progressive constitutional rule of law.

“Sanral can try carrots and sticks to force compliance, but e-tolling cannot be sustained by manipulation of emotions. Only willing consent and acceptance by the people will make the system viable,” the Outa spokesman said.

The group further noted a mounting number of e-toll complaints, many of which point to “clear signs of gross maladministration”, including charges for transaction from before the system was implemented on 3 December 2013.

“Sanral has now acknowledged the billing fiasco as being more than ‘teething problems’ and that these are real issues,” Clarke said.

“Under such circumstances, people have every right to refuse to pay until the data integrity has been satisfied.”