Seneca Nation to charge tolls on state highway

Friday, May 18, 2007  

The Seneca Nation of New York plans to charge $1 for every vehicle that passes through a state highway on the Cattaraugus Reservation.

But motorists won't have to pay the toll. Instead, the tribe will send a bill every month for use of the New York State Thruway.

The plan was immediately rejected by Gov. Eliot Spitzer (D), who wants to impose gasoline and tobacco taxes on reservations. "Needless to say, the Seneca Nation has no legal basis for imposing a fee on vehicles using the Thruway," a spokesperson told the Associated Press.

In 1954, the tribe authorized the highway through its lands. The easement was lifted last month.

Get the Story:
Senecas start billing state for Thruway use of land (The Buffalo News 5/18)
Senecas demand $1 for each I-90 car (The Albany Times-Union 5/18)
NY Senecas Vote to Charge Toll on Cars (AP 5/17)
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Relevant Links:
Seneca Nation - http://www.sni.org
Honor Indian Treaties - http://www.honorindiantreaties.org

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