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February 6, 2006 9:00 AM, EST

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lawyer for a group of West Virginia businesses has asked a Kanawha County judge to temporarily freeze toll increases on the West Virginia Turnpike, the Associated Press reported.

The turnpike authority's seven-member board voted Dec. 14 to increase toll prices from $1.25 to $2 per toll booth for passenger cars and from $4.25 to $7 for five-axle commercial trucks. The increases marked the first time tolls had been raised on the turnpike since 1981.

Circuit Court Judge Irene Berger did not immediately rule on the lawsuit filed Friday, AP said.

The dozen companies claim they will be severely harmed by the Jan. 1 rate increase by the Parkways, Economic Development and Tourism Authority, AP reported.

The group’s attorney asked Berger to delay the increases by up to three months so the issue could be studied.

(Click here for previous coverage.)