# How about charging a toll at the border to pay for a fence? **URL:** \ **Category:** Politics & Elections\ **Created:** [January 5, 2019, 8:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-about-charging-a-toll-at-the-border-to-pay-for-a-fence/827262 "2019-01-05T20:35:56Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![aceplace57](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aceplace57/32/3500_2.png) [@aceplace57](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aceplace57)\ **Post date:** [January 5, 2019, 8:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-about-charging-a-toll-at-the-border-to-pay-for-a-fence/827262/1 "2019-01-05T20:35:56Z")
**Proposal:** US charges $7 a car toll and $12 commercial trucks to cross the border. Paid electronically by Ez Pass To build, staff, and maintain a border fence. Wouldn’t that solve the current problem? Texas already has toll roads. Charged by the mile. Here’s Austin TX [https://www.txtag.org/en/about/tollroad\_austin\_area.shtml](https://www.txtag.org/en/about/tollroad_austin_area.shtml) Toll fees can cost more. [https://www.google.com/amp/s/amp.usatoday.com/amp/930900001](https://www.google.com/amp/s/amp.usatoday.com/amp/930900001) $7 to cross the border seems pretty reasonable. We already have laws that allow toll roads. No additional legislation should be needed. How about it? Is this the solution? I’ve unsuccessfully tried Googling an estimate of the cars that pass through the border. ---
**Author:** ![bobot](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bobot/32/21622_2.png) [@bobot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bobot)\ **Post date:** [January 5, 2019, 8:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-about-charging-a-toll-at-the-border-to-pay-for-a-fence/827262/2 "2019-01-05T20:40:48Z")
How long/high a fence are you envisioning, and to combat what specific issue? ---
**Author:** ![aceplace57](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aceplace57/32/3500_2.png) [@aceplace57](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aceplace57)\ **Post date:** [January 5, 2019, 8:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-about-charging-a-toll-at-the-border-to-pay-for-a-fence/827262/3 "2019-01-05T20:42:19Z")
The standard fence we use now for border security. I think it’s 10 ft? I’ve crossed the border at Larado many times. It’s always packed with traffic. [https://goo.gl/images/VQemsk](https://goo.gl/images/VQemsk) I’m actually surprised we aren’t collecting a toll to defray costs. ---
**Author:** ![aceplace57](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aceplace57/32/3500_2.png) [@aceplace57](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aceplace57)\ **Post date:** [January 5, 2019, 8:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-about-charging-a-toll-at-the-border-to-pay-for-a-fence/827262/4 "2019-01-05T20:57:20Z")
I found these statistics for US Mexico. Use the drop down box to select US Mexico. [https://explore.dot.gov/t/BTS/views/BTSBorderCrossingAnnualData/BorderCrossingTableDashboard?:embed=y&:showShareOptions=true&:display\_count=no&:showVizHome=no](https://explore.dot.gov/t/BTS/views/BTSBorderCrossingAnnualData/BorderCrossingTableDashboard?:embed=y&:showShareOptions=true&:display_count=no&:showVizHome=no) A toll would bring in some serious cash for border security. Taking the burden off taxpayers. ---
**Author:** ![bobot](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bobot/32/21622_2.png) [@bobot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bobot)\ **Post date:** [January 5, 2019, 9:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-about-charging-a-toll-at-the-border-to-pay-for-a-fence/827262/5 "2019-01-05T21:09:31Z")
How long will the fence be? ---
**Author:** ![Wolf333](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wolf333/32/3460_2.png) [@Wolf333](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Wolf333)\ **Post date:** [January 5, 2019, 9:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-about-charging-a-toll-at-the-border-to-pay-for-a-fence/827262/6 "2019-01-05T21:11:31Z")
So, Mexico isn’t paying for it? ---
**Author:** ![running\_coach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/running_coach/32/15836_2.png) [@running\_coach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/running_coach)\ **Post date:** [January 5, 2019, 9:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-about-charging-a-toll-at-the-border-to-pay-for-a-fence/827262/7 "2019-01-05T21:24:54Z")
5 billion in one year would require almost 2 million cars per day. ---
**Author:** ![enipla](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/54ee81/32.png) [@enipla](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/enipla)\ **Post date:** [January 5, 2019, 9:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-about-charging-a-toll-at-the-border-to-pay-for-a-fence/827262/8 "2019-01-05T21:41:08Z")
The underlying problem isn’t the cost. Trump and Trump supporters don’t seem to understand that. 5 billion is a drop in the bucket. The underlying problem is it’s a stupid fucking idea. ---
**Author:** ![BobLibDem](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/boblibdem/32/3149_2.png) [@BobLibDem](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BobLibDem)\ **Post date:** [January 5, 2019, 9:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-about-charging-a-toll-at-the-border-to-pay-for-a-fence/827262/9 "2019-01-05T21:45:48Z")
Someone’s gonna have to go back and get a whole SHITLOAD of dimes. Some places a fence makes sense. Other places it doesn’t. Most here illegally didn’t cross where there were no fences, they simply overstayed their entry. Most drugs come in hidden in shipping containers. Most immigrants are law abiding. There is no crisis, no need for a stupid wall, and no need to come up with silly things like crowd-funding, tolls, or bake sales to pay for it. ---
**Author:** ![Smapti](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/smapti/32/17938_2.png) [@Smapti](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Smapti)\ **Post date:** [January 5, 2019, 10:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-about-charging-a-toll-at-the-border-to-pay-for-a-fence/827262/10 "2019-01-05T22:37:52Z")
How about we don’t give Loser Donald a single penny, from any source, for his pointless racism wall? ---
**Author:** ![bobot](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bobot/32/21622_2.png) [@bobot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bobot)\ **Post date:** [January 5, 2019, 11:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-about-charging-a-toll-at-the-border-to-pay-for-a-fence/827262/11 "2019-01-05T23:10:12Z")
> [@Smapti](#): > > How about we don’t give Loser Donald a single penny, from any source, for his pointless racism wall? I’m not sure Aceplace is talking about Trump’s folly. The OP mentioned a fence. I’ve asked him 3 or so questions about it, but he’s only answered one of them. ---
**Author:** ![scr4](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/59ef9b/32.png) [@scr4](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/scr4)\ **Post date:** [January 5, 2019, 11:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-about-charging-a-toll-at-the-border-to-pay-for-a-fence/827262/12 "2019-01-05T23:27:24Z")
Trump claimed [1 million people and 400,000 vehicles](https://www.politifact.com/truth-o-meter/statements/2016/sep/14/donald-trump/trump-says-1-million-legal-crossings-along-us-mexi/) cross the US-Mexico border every day, and Politifact says that’s plausible if you count both inbound and outbound travel. If that’s true, $5 billion in a year would require a $35 toll per vehicle, _assuming the toll does not affect the traffic_. Which of course is a stupid assumption - lots of people go to Mexico to buy things cheaper (esp. medication). Most will stop making those trips if it costs $70 per round trip. ---
**Author:** ![aceplace57](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aceplace57/32/3500_2.png) [@aceplace57](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aceplace57)\ **Post date:** [January 5, 2019, 11:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-about-charging-a-toll-at-the-border-to-pay-for-a-fence/827262/13 "2019-01-05T23:57:10Z")
> [@bobot](#): > > I’m not sure Aceplace is talking about Trump’s folly. The OP mentioned a fence. I’ve asked him 3 or so questions about it, but he’s only answered one of them. Yes, I’m focused on repairing the existing fence and augmenting new fencing where border control says it’s actually needed. Imho a lot of the 650 miles already installed can be maintained and used. It doesn’t require replacement. There are very remote areas where fencing isn’t practical. Electronic surveillance can be used instead. Maybe another 400 to 600 miles of fencing is needed? Maybe less? It can be done for a lot less than 5 billion. > **[Trump's wall: How much has been built during his term?](https://www.bbc.com/news/world-us-canada-46748492)** > > It was a key part of Mr Trump's 2016 election campaign, so how much of the wall has he got done? > [@](#): > > The border is 1,954 miles (3,145 km) long, with about 650 miles of various types of fencing already in place through California, Arizona, New Mexico and Texas. > > According to documents obtained by CNN at the beginning of 2018, officials told Congress that the Trump plan would mean 864 miles of new wall and 1,163 miles of replacement wall. It would cost $33bn (£26bn). ---
**Author:** ![guizot](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/guizot/32/3636_2.png) [@guizot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/guizot)\ **Post date:** [January 6, 2019, 12:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-about-charging-a-toll-at-the-border-to-pay-for-a-fence/827262/14 "2019-01-06T00:03:32Z")
So you’re going to charge people who commute across the border an extra $7.00 a day? Why should they be paying for it? And would you be charging the “toll” at every port? Only vehicles? How about pedestrians? How about people entering the country on planes? How are you going to get around equal protection objections? ---
**Author:** ![aceplace57](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aceplace57/32/3500_2.png) [@aceplace57](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aceplace57)\ **Post date:** [January 6, 2019, 12:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-about-charging-a-toll-at-the-border-to-pay-for-a-fence/827262/15 "2019-01-06T00:05:17Z")
It’s a road use toll just like the majority of states already charge. The law for toll roads is already well established. The people using the road help pay for it. It costs a lot to staff and operate a customs entry port on the border. The people that use it should pay a small fee. There’s very few states that don’t have toll roads. [https://www.google.com/search?client=ms-android-motorola&ei=LUUxXJjsF5HytAXDwoqABw&q=states+with+toll+roads&oq=states+with+toll+roads&gs\_l=mobile-gws-wiz-serp.3..0j0i22i30l4.327128.342027..342776...7.0..0.165.2976.1j23......0....1.......5..46j35i39j46i39j46i131j0i67j46i67j0i20i263j33i22i29i30j33i160.ks0WRLgkDp4#imgrc=MgmbYQp\_hYMnlM:](https://www.google.com/search?client=ms-android-motorola&ei=LUUxXJjsF5HytAXDwoqABw&q=states+with+toll+roads&oq=states+with+toll+roads&gs_l=mobile-gws-wiz-serp.3..0j0i22i30l4.327128.342027..342776...7.0..0.165.2976.1j23......0....1.......5..46j35i39j46i39j46i131j0i67j46i67j0i20i263j33i22i29i30j33i160.ks0WRLgkDp4#imgrc=MgmbYQp_hYMnlM:) ---
**Author:** ![guizot](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/guizot/32/3636_2.png) [@guizot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/guizot)\ **Post date:** [January 6, 2019, 12:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-about-charging-a-toll-at-the-border-to-pay-for-a-fence/827262/16 "2019-01-06T00:10:00Z")
> [@aceplace57](#): > > It’s a road use toll just like the majority of states already charge. > > The law for toll roads is already well established. > > The people using the road help pay for it. The entity that owns the road charges the toll. Not the federal government. ---
**Author:** ![bobot](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bobot/32/21622_2.png) [@bobot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bobot)\ **Post date:** [January 6, 2019, 12:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-about-charging-a-toll-at-the-border-to-pay-for-a-fence/827262/17 "2019-01-06T00:13:53Z")
Oh, so you are talking about Trump’s thing. Nevermind paying for it, we don’t need it. It would be a waste of resources, and even if Mexico paid for it the wall would be a blight on the beautiful American landscape and an environmental nightmare. Walls are effective around prisons, ancient castles and failed authoritarian areas. Tell me, why do you think we need it? ---
**Author:** ![aceplace57](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aceplace57/32/3500_2.png) [@aceplace57](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aceplace57)\ **Post date:** [January 6, 2019, 12:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-about-charging-a-toll-at-the-border-to-pay-for-a-fence/827262/18 "2019-01-06T00:14:43Z")
Aren’t the Interstates with tolls Federal? I had always assumed that’s who gets the money. ---
**Author:** ![RitterSport](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rittersport/32/6326_2.png) [@RitterSport](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RitterSport)\ **Post date:** [January 6, 2019, 12:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-about-charging-a-toll-at-the-border-to-pay-for-a-fence/827262/19 "2019-01-06T00:15:33Z")
Which problem are you trying to solve? Actually boosting border security (and, if so, why?) or making Trump happy? Because he doesn’t want money to add fencing and improve security – he wants his rattle, uh, I mean, his blankie…sorry, he wants his wall. So, how does your proposal to build fencing solve that problem? ---
**Author:** ![aceplace57](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aceplace57/32/3500_2.png) [@aceplace57](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aceplace57)\ **Post date:** [January 6, 2019, 12:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-about-charging-a-toll-at-the-border-to-pay-for-a-fence/827262/20 "2019-01-06T00:16:32Z")
> [@bobot](#): > > Oh, so you are talking about Trump’s thing. Nevermind paying for it, we don’t need it. It would be a waste of resources, and even if Mexico paid for it the wall would be a blight on the beautiful American landscape and an environmental nightmare. Walls are effective around prisons, ancient castles and failed authoritarian areas. > Tell me, why do you think we need it? All I’m suggesting is augmenting and maintaining what’s there. That’s not comparable to Trump’s grand wall. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-about-charging-a-toll-at-the-border-to-pay-for-a-fence/827262.md?page=2)