Complaints against abusive New Jersey toll takers hit the web

The Smoking Gun website has its cross hairs on the toll takers on the New Jersey Turnpike. Apparently some drivers are finding that paying with too big of a bill can launch a tirade of insults.

The Smoking Gun website has its cross hairs on the toll takers on the New Jersey Turnpike. Apparently some drivers are finding that paying with too big of a bill can launch a tirade of insults.

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The Smoking Gun has a special section on its website called “Toll Collectors Gone Wild”.

It lists 30 of the more than 550 complaints sent to the New Jersey Turnpike Authority over the past 18 months citing lewd and mean spirited behavior by toll workers.

Joseph Jesselli is a reporter with The Smoking Gun,  which used the Freedom of Information Act to get the letters. He finds the entries both surprising and amusing.

Jesselli: One patron was going through the booth and the toll collector said I have a way to keep young ladies awake and when she asked him how, he said I flash them! Other things that people are bothered by is when a toll collector is inattentive and might be on their cell phone ordering a pepperoni pizza.

The Turnpike Authority says it does not condone this behavior and adds that each of these reports has been looked into. Some have resulted in the suspension or termination of employees.