AG says ferry tolls can increase, despite governor's order | News

WILMINGTON, NC (WECT) - The North Carolina Department of Justice is disagreeing with an Executive Order issued recently by Governor Bev Perdue.

In February, Perdue issued Executive order 116 which would have stopped the collection of new tolls for the NC Ferry System. At the time, Perdue based her decision on the economic well-being of citizens in coastal counties recovering from the impact of Hurricane Irene.

A letter written by Chief Deputy Attorney General Grayson Kelley, says the AG's office was not able to find any other case where courts had resolved a conflict between a law passed by the General Assembly and an Executive Order by the Governor.

Kelley goes on to say that it is the opinion of the AG's office that a direct conflict between a law enacted by the General Assembly and an Executive Order must be resolved by enforcing the law.

Attorney General Roy Cooper issued a statement Friday morning saying:

"It is our opinion that the state law as passed by the legislature must be followed. It was the legislature's decision to collect tolls and the legislature has the authority to remove them."

The Governor's Office has not yet issued a statement on the issue.

Copyright 2012 WECT. All rights reserved.