Live Free or Die, Live Free or Go to Jail for 50 cents!

[on-ramp]

Man Jailed Over 50-Cent Toll

ROCHESTER, N.H. -- A Massachusetts man who insists his New Hampshire highway tokens are still valid just spent three days in jail because he insisted on using two tokens to pay a 50-cent toll.

Thomas Jensen, 68, of Braintree, said the state broke a contract with him and everyone else who bought tokens by refusing to accept them after January of last year. He was convicted of theft of services for continuing to use tokens after they were phased out.

‘‘I gave the state of New Hampshire money for the tokens, and I expect to be able to use them,’’ Jensen told The Patriot Ledger.


Jensen was driving to his New Hampshire summer home when he tried to pay the 50-cent toll with tokens, as he had always done.

The toll worker refused to take them and a state trooper at the plaza gave Jensen a citation.

‘‘(The trooper) said, ‘Just give him the 50 cents.’ I said, ‘I did, I gave him two tokens,’’’ Jensen told the newspaper.

Monday, a judge told Jensen he could pay a $150 fine, do community service or go to jail for three days. He choose jail.

‘‘Over my dead body was I going to give the state another dollar for the tolls,’’ Jensen said.

He told the newspaper that the jail was a clean, new facility and that the food was better than expected. He said he spent his time in jail talking with other inmates.

Jensen never told his wife he was in jail. Beverly Jensen said she only found out when asked by a television news reporter.

After being set free Thursday, Jensen said he's considering a lawsuit. He said the state should just accept tokens until they're all used up.

‘‘I just get offended by people trying to do me wrong,’’ he said. ‘‘They stole the value of these tokens from me.’’

[Rick Lee]

Good for him. Three days in jail probably cost the state more than they'll ever get from him in tolls.

[sammyg2]

Twist it around until it says what you want it to.
He didn't go to jail for 50 cents. He went to jail because he CHOSE to go to jail. It was his choice, and he chose jail.

Why do libs always feel sorry for idiots who try and defy the law?
This guy was an asshat who would rather go to jail that pay 50 cents. He got what he asked for, and now you want to stir up support for him? Bah.

[on-ramp]

Originally Posted by sammyg2

Twist it around until it says what you want it to.
He didn't go to jail for 50 cents. He went to jail because he CHOSE to go to jail. It was his choice, and he chose jail.

Why do libs always feel sorry for idiots who try and defy the law?
This guy was an asshat who would rather go to jail that pay 50 cents. He got what he asked for, and now you want to stir up support for him? Bah.

good to know you believe in principles. next time something like that happens to you, how would YOU handle it?

[Shaun @ Tru6]

the worst kind of citizen is one who happily allows government to fόck with his life, rolls over at the first bit of adversity, and surrenders his liberty and wallet in the process.

This guy is a real Patriot in the truest sense of the word.

[on-ramp]

Originally Posted by Shaun 84 Targa

the worst kind of citizen is one who happily allows government to fόck with his life, rolls over at the first bit of adversity, and surrenders his liberty and wallet in the process.

This guy is a real Patriot in the truest sense of the word.

exactly right.

[Porsche-O-Phile]

Originally Posted by Shaun 84 Targa

the worst kind of citizen is one who happily allows government to fόck with his life, rolls over at the first bit of adversity, and surrenders his liberty and wallet in the process.

This guy is a real Patriot in the truest sense of the word.

+1

"Live Free or Die" my ass. Ever been to New Hampshire? I have. It's far from the bastion of Patriotism they'd have you believe it is. So they don't have sales tax. Big deal. They tax the crap out of you for everything else.

[Rick Lee]

I think he's a hero. He chose to go to jail because it costs the state money instead of costing him money. That's why I fight speeding and parking tickets too. I want the state to suffer a net loss when they try to rob me. I may lose some, but they always lose more.

[Hugh R]

The state should have given him his 50 cents back for the tokens that he had purchased. Gotta disagree with you Sammy. Sure he "chose" to go to jail, but he stood up for his principles.

[stomachmonkey]

Originally Posted by Shaun 84 Targa

the worst kind of citizen is one who happily allows government to fόck with his life, rolls over at the first bit of adversity, and surrenders his liberty and wallet in the process.

This guy is a real Patriot in the truest sense of the word.

Well said.

[gassy]

Sweeet!

[gassy]

"Why do libs always feel sorry for idiots who try and defy the law?"

We libs don't feel sorry for Bush at all.

[tc-sacto]

Good for him! The state make him buy tokens, then devalues them. What a load of crap.

[dtw]

Uggggh. I agree with Shaun. Time for some single barrel bourbon to still my nerves. Y'all have a great night bickering! And on-ramp, have a great night being a victim of [insert injustice d'jour].

[dafischer]

Originally Posted by sammyg2

Twist it around until it says what you want it to.
He didn't go to jail for 50 cents. He went to jail because he CHOSE to go to jail. It was his choice, and he chose jail.

Why do libs always feel sorry for idiots who try and defy the law?
This guy was an asshat who would rather go to jail that pay 50 cents. He got what he asked for, and now you want to stir up support for him? Bah.

We can always count on you to throw the liberal vs. conservative spin on things. Bah right back at you.

[rammstein]

Wow. Hmmmm...

OK- I would need more data. There's a chance that whenever he bought those tokens there was some stupid fine print somewhere that read something to the effect of 'validity subject to change without notice' or an expiration date or something.

ASSUMING that no such language existed anywhere, he still could have handled it differently.

The toll worker has a job, and he's not going to risk losing it by accepting something he's been told not to. The Police officer is not really wrong either, because he has a law he is forced to enforce. The issue should have been made into some type of class-action suit against the state.

This is why I now refuse to 'prepay' anything. I will not do 'automatic monthly payments' for anything. I will never sign another cell-phone contract. The state could have offered a buyback for the tokens, and if they had then this guy would have no case whatsoever. I agree with the guy's anger at this, I've felt it about similar situations. But he chose to bring the issue to a head with people who really can't do anything about it. That's where he blew it.

[Shaun @ Tru6]

Originally Posted by dtw

Uggggh. I agree with Shaun. Time for some single barrel bourbon to still my nerves. Y'all have a great night bickering! And on-ramp, have a great night being a victim of [insert injustice d'jour].

So there's this and BBQ and a beer. That's 3 things now!

[stomachmonkey]

Originally Posted by rammstein

Wow. Hmmmm...

OK- I would need more data. There's a chance that whenever he bought those tokens there was some stupid fine print somewhere that read something to the effect of 'validity subject to change without notice' or an expiration date or something.

ASSUMING that no such language existed anywhere, he still could have handled it differently.

The toll worker has a job, and he's not going to risk losing it by accepting something he's been told not to. The Police officer is not really wrong either, because he has a law he is forced to enforce. The issue should have been made into some type of class-action suit against the state.

This is why I now refuse to 'prepay' anything. I will not do 'automatic monthly payments' for anything. I will never sign another cell-phone contract. The state could have offered a buyback for the tokens, and if they had then this guy would have no case whatsoever. I agree with the guy's anger at this, I've felt it about similar situations. But he chose to bring the issue to a head with people who really can't do anything about it. That's where he blew it.

It's possible he did try the "normal" channels for remedy and hit the civil services wall.

Might be he felt the only way to get someone to take him seriously was to go "public".

[on-ramp]

how does 3 days in jail even become an option for 50 cents? Paris only did 1 day for DUI.

[stomachmonkey]

Originally Posted by on-ramp

how does 3 days in jail even become an option for 50 cents? Paris only did 1 day for DUI.

Got an open container once. Went to court to pay. Female judge says $25 or 5 days. I immediately say "I'll take the $25". She pauses, looks at me and says "it's not your choice".

I made sure to keep my mouth shut the rest of the time.