KAMLOOPS, B.C. — The Coquihalla Hwy. was shut down by protestors for 90 minutes on Aug. 2, costing the B.C. government about $20,000 in tolls.

Protestors against the privatization of the highway took over the tollbooths allowing hundreds of drivers to pass through without paying the tolls Friday evening.

“We have provided some additional security at the toll booth as a result of the incident,” says Shawn Robbins, Highways Ministry spokesman. “We’re looking at about $20,000 in lost revenue.”

The protestors covered security cameras with duct tape and began handing out leaflets to drivers, scaring toll collectors, according to the union representing the government employees.

“Demonstrators were yelling and screaming, waving these signs at us and demanding we shut everything down. Nobody knew what these people wanted or were planning on doing,” one employee tells local media.

RCMP Cpl. Len Laseur says, “The toll manager was fearful for the safety and the security of his employees so he ordered that they lock their kiosks, not taking tolls for the time being.”

One protestor said the protest was aimed at highlighting the issue of privatizing government services and was a way of condemning the implementation of more tolls in B.C.