Virginians had a mixed reaction to a law that took effect Sunday permitting toll booths to be erected on major highways.

Supporters believe the measure will raise needed money for road maintenance.

“We have a lot of people from out of state who drive long distances on our interstates but do not pay anything unless they stop for gas,” said Del. Scott Lingamfelter, R-Woodbridge, who sponsored the legislation.

But Prince William County Supervisor Martin E. Nohe said many constituents have told him, “I don’t want to have to pay to use a road I already paid for.”

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The law allows the state to erect toll booths on major highways to raise money for improvement work on the roads. Revenue would not be allowed to be earmarked for work elsewhere, and the booths would not be permitted in heavily congested areas, such as the Interstate-495/I-95/I-395 interchange in Springfield.

Unlike controversial new penalties for drivers who commit felonies and misdemeanors behind the wheel, the tolls will evenly apply to Virginia drivers and out-of-state motorists passing through the commonwealth.

Some Virginians would rather see tolls imposed than pay higher taxes and fees.

“The people using the roads are the ones who should have to pay for them,” Tom Sandlin, a Prince William resident, said during a Thursday public hearing on transportation funding options.

The federal government requires states to receive permission for installing toll booths on interstate highways such as I-66, I-95 and I-495. States cannot, for example, generally erect toll plazas on existing lanes. Virginia expects approval of plans to build high-occupancy toll lanes on I-66 and I-495 because the project will increase lanes on the highway and provide drivers with a new traveling option.

“The (new) law is a beneficial clarification of the commonwealth’s ability to build toll booths, but there is already a set of criteria at the federal level that must be met,” Secretary of Transportation Pierce Homer said. “The requirements are very stringent.”

Besides the federal restrictions, any Virginia tolling proposal will have to overcome opposition from local officials and taxpayers.

dgenz@dcexaminer.com

jrogalsky@dcexaminer.com