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PRESS RELEASE

AAA Calls New Interstate Tolls Unfair

13 March 1997

AAA Says New Tolls on Interstates are Unfair

    WASHINGTON, March 12 -- AAA said today it is unalterably
opposed to legislation which would allow new tolls to be added to existing
interstate highways.
    "There is good reason for the existing federal prohibition against tolls
on interstates," said James L. Kolstad, vice president, AAA public and
government relations.  "The public has already paid for these roads through
the 18.3 cents-per-gallon federal gas tax.  Adding tolls is double taxation
clear and simple.
    "The federal highway program has been on a pay-as-you-go basis since the
inception of the Highway Trust Fund in 1956," Kolstad said.  "AAA, with its 39
million members, represents a great number of the motorists who have paid
billions into the trust fund that built the interstate system.  To ask them to
pay again is patently unfair."
    AAA is a not-for-profit federation of 99 motor clubs with more than 1,000
offices providing more than 39 million members in the U.S. and Canada with
travel, insurance, financial and auto-related services.

SOURCE  American Automobile Association

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CONTACT: Bill Jackman or Steve Hayes of the American Automobile Association,
202-942-2050