Maryland Transportation Authority Issues Warnings By Mistake

A mistake by the Maryland Transportation Authority is taking a toll on drivers. The agency admitted, in a Facebook post, that when it introduced cashless tolling in mid October, it neglected to deactivate software that issues speed violations on the Hatem Bridge.

As a result, thousands of motorists were issued warnings that they were speeding and their E-Z Pass accounts may be suspended if they got another warning letter.

Daily users of the bridge, which crosses the Susquehanna River via US 40 to connect Harford and Cecil counties, said they would have to re-budget without E-ZPass. It's $2.80 for those with E-ZPass and $8 for those without.

Although the tickets threaten to take away E-ZPass based on violations, a spokeswoman for the Maryland Transportation Authority told the Baltimore Sun that the agency has never suspended an E-ZPass over speeding. She also said approximately 22,000 warning letters were sent to those who had taken the Hatem Bridge over the past 30 days, an error costing $20,000.

Authorities advised drivers to disregard the warnings from Oct. 16 to Nov. 4.

The agency that typically alerts motorists with orange cones and flashing lights took the avenue of Facebook to get the word out about the error.

On Nov. 3, the Maryland Transportation Authority posted on Facebook the following message:

HATEM BRIDGE MOTORISTS -- The warning notice equipment associated with the toll plaza was not deactivated with the implementation of gantry tolling collection. Administrators have taken corrective action. Please disregard the speeding notice you may have received and continue to stay alert and watch speeds in the active construction zone.

Hundreds commented on its three-sentence explanation, and the Maryland Transportation Authority responded to a few questions.

Why are people still getting warnings in the mail?

"MDTA stopped the auto-generated process of sending notices on November 4," authorities replied on the Facebook page.

Where are the speed readings taken?

"Deactivation of this software at the Hatem Bridge toll plaza was not coordinated with full implementation of cashless tolling via the gantries. That software was being measured from the gantry," officials said.

Related:

• Hatem Bridge To Go Cashless; Electronic Toll Collection To Begin
• Cashless Tolling To Roll Out On Hatem, Key Bridges

The gantry is the overhead structure installed on both the Hatem and Key bridges so that these two bridges can use cashless video tolling. The Maryland Transportation Authority announced the move to all-electronic tolling at the Hatem and Key bridges in the spring and said it is expected to reduce idling time and save drivers hours each year on their commutes. The Hatem Bridge went cashless Oct. 16, and the Key Bridge did the same Oct. 31.

Part of the idea is to allow drivers to continue at highway speed without slowing down for the tolls. Until the toll booths are removed in 2021, drivers should treat these areas as construction zones.

Is the Key Bridge having the same problems and issuing mistaken warnings?

Officials are taking preventive actions at the Key Bridge now that this has happened at the Hatem Bridge, the Maryland Transportation Authority reported.

When did speed cameras go in on the Hatem Bridge?

"They are not speed ticketing cameras and not new. They exist at all Maryland toll plazas. MDTA sends warning notices for speeding through all Maryland toll plazas due to safety," officials said.

In spring 2021, toll booths at the Hatem Bridge and the Key Bridge will be demolished, and at that point, drivers will be able to drive through the electronic tolls at highway speeds, according to the Maryland Transportation Authority. Because the toll plazas at the Hatem and Key bridges will be active work zones until then, drivers should obey speed limits and keep an eye on the road signs.