New Eyman initiative would ‘pull the plug’ on I-405, SR 167 toll lanes

A week after the Washington State Supreme Court tossed Tim Eyman’s voter-approved initiative, the political activist is back at it. And this time, he’s focused on cars.

Signature gathering starts Thursday for a new Eyman initiative that would nuke HOT-lane tolling on I-405 and Highway 167.

Eyman told AM 770 KTTH’s Todd Herman that Initiative 869 would also repeal vehicle weight fees, Sound Transit’s tax on car tabs and any fees imposed by cities on vehicles.

Related: I-405 express toll lanes get a 6-month report card

“This initiative is very much focused on limiting taxes, fees, tolls and other charges on vehicles,” Eyman explained. “It’s not getting rid of all those, but we’re trying to target those that do not have the consent of the governed.”

Eyman has given up on gathering signatures for Initiative 1421, which would bring back $30 car tabs. He says it never gained steam.

The latest initiative, Eyman says, is “another battle.”

“We’ve done so many initiatives on taxes and found so many ways to protect the taxpayers,” he told Herman.

The initiative does not target tolls on bridges. Instead, it’s an attempt to remove the tolls from I-405 and State Route 167 that has caused what Eyman says is “an absolute debacle.”

“Our initiative would wipe them away,” he said. “It would pull the plug on them once and for all.”

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