Millions In Toll Fines on the MCB: Amnesty For Drivers Announced

NYACK, NY — As millions mount up in unpaid fines on the New York State Thruway's crossing of the Tappan Zee, state officials announced a 3-week amnesty program Tuesday. Set to launch in February, it will give Tolls By Mail cashless tolling customers with open violations amnesty for the penalties if they just pay the tolls they owe.

Thruway officials are also working on ways to educate drivers without E-Z Pass about how to pay the tolls and avoid those fines and penalties. Those can mount up fast, specially if you don't have your current address on file with the DMV.

"The Thruway Authority is going the extra mile to reduce the burden on motorists as we increase awareness about the Tolls By Mail program," said a spokeswoman.

For the Gov. Mario M. Cuomo bridge, if the first toll bill by mail is not paid by the customer, a $5 late fee is imposed on the second notice. If the second notice is also ignored, violation fees of $100 per toll are imposed — and those start at the end of the billing cycle. Cross 10 times in a month and don't pay and you would owe $50 for the tolls, $25 in fines and $1,000 in penalties within three months.

The cashless tolling system went in in April 2016, on the old Tappan Zee Bridge. About 80 percent of the 140,000 drivers who cross Tappan Zee every day have E-Z Pass, Thruway officials said.

“Cashless tolling is a critical part of modernizing our infrastructure. Reduced congestion and air pollution, along with improved safety, means better quality of life for all. Open road cashless tolling represents the future for efficient transportation," said Acting Executive Director Mathew J. Driscoll in Tuesday's announcement.

This Hudson River crossing is important to the Thruway Authority, providing one-fifth of its annual revenues.

But in the past two years, problems, bills, and lost revenue have mounted.

The New York State Thruway Authority is owed a total of about $8 million in unpaid tolls by drivers crossing the Mario without EZ-Pass, according to The Journal News, which filed a FOI request for the data. The paper is hosting a forum Tuesday evening about the issues.

Thruway Authority officials said eligible motorists will receive a letter from the Thruway Authority and must pay all outstanding toll balances by Feb. 21. The amnesty will then be applied to violation fees for passenger vehicles of Tolls By Mail customers with open violations that were issued between April 24, 2016 through Jan. 31, 2018.

The Thruway Authority also announced an action plan to increase educational outreach about billing for cashless tolling at the Mario. It's about the tolls and how to pay bills on time and avoid fees, violations and possible registration suspension.

News of the amnesty and the new education plan pleased Assemblyman Kenneth Zebrowksi, who has been working with Rockland constituents complaining about the problems with Tolls by Mail.

“These changes should help to inform drivers and reduce fines. While cashless tolls help with traffic and congestion, it is important that the State adapt when new technology causes confusion. These efforts should ensure all drivers understand the new system and avoid major fines," he said.

However, he's still calling for an overhaul of the toll fines and penalties.

"I am also continuing my request to the Thruway Authority for reductions of the fine structure," he said. "I sent this letter on 11/21/17 describing how $100 per violation can lead to shockingly high fines. Discussions have been positive and I am hopeful we will achieve these reductions. My office has successfully worked with many constituents and the EZ Pass/Thruway Authority to resolve individual issues. I encourage residents to continue to call my office should they receive a confusing bill.”

The Thruway Authority's new steps include:

• Installing more specific roadway signage that clearly outlines payment options to avoid late fees and penalties. The signage will better highlight for motorists that they have passed a tolling point and if they don’t have E-ZPass, they need to pay via Tolls By Mail. The signs will clearly instruct drivers who don’t use E-ZPass to "AVOID PENALTIES" by calling **826 for toll payment options.
• Improving the wording on tolls bills and envelopes to emphasize ways to avoid fines and penalties. The revised Tolls By Mail bills and envelopes will make it clear how a customer can avoid fines and penalties by paying tolls by the due date. The envelopes will prominently say, “AVOID FEES,” and toll bills will say, “Avoid fees of up to $100 per toll transaction by paying your Toll Bill by the due date.”
• Updating the Thruway App and websites – thruway.ny.gov, e-zpassny.com, and tollsbymailny.com – to direct users to update their address with the Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV). This will remind drivers that New York State law requires motorists to keep their address current with the DMV to ensure bills are mailed to the proper owners and that they must update their address with the DMV within 10 days of moving.
• Working with other agencies to increase E-ZPass educational outreach to showcase E-ZPass as the most convenient and cost–effective way to travel on New York’s roadways, bridges and tunnels.
• Developing a public service announcement on how to pay tolls and avoid fees and penalties that will be displayed at Thruway Service Areas, DMV offices, websites, etc.

Officials said the current outreach effort will be continued as well. It includes informative educational materials in Thruway Service Areas, signage for more than a mile leading up to the Governor Mario M. Cuomo Bridge, and information on thruway.ny.gov, e-zpassny.com, and tollsbymailny.com.

"The Thruway Authority’s commitment is to improve our customers' experience by increasing educational outreach to address concerns related to the billing process but it should also be recognized that there must be a balanced and an effective system to enforce the rules for all motorists who use the bridge," Driscoll said.

Thruway officials offered drivers these tips about dealing with the MCB tolls, fines and penalties:

Customers who don’t have an E-ZPass and use the Governor Mario M. Cuomo Bridge can pay their toll before a bill arrives by visiting tollsbymailny.com and pay in a few short steps by providing their license plate number, along with a payment method and period of time traveled. Motorists can also access additional information about how to pay by calling the Tolls By Mail customer service center at 1-844-826-8400.

New York State law requires motorists to keep their address current with the Department of Motor Vehicles to ensure bills are mailed to the proper owner. Drivers must update their address with the DMV within 10 days of moving. The New York State Department of Motor Vehicles has enacted regulation that allows suspension of the vehicle registration of motorists with three or more unpaid tolls, violation fees and other charges resulting from violations on different days, as well as registration suspension of commercial vehicle owners with $200 or more in unpaid tolls and violation fees, within a period of five years. Repeated notices are sent before eligibility for suspension.

Motorists who use cashless tolling but claim they have not received a toll bill should contact the Tolls By Mail Customer Service Center at 1-844-826-8400 immediately to address the issue, and avoid any fines. For questions regarding Notices of Toll violation, contact the E-ZPass Customer Service Center at 1-800-333-8655.

State officials also urged motorists to sign up for E-Z Pass.

Drivers are strongly encouraged to take advantage of the most convenient and cost- effective way to travel New York's roadways by signing up for E-ZPass. With a New York E-ZPass tag, drivers save on tolls across the state, including a five percent discount along the entire 570-mile New York State Thruway. E-ZPass tags are available for purchase at many Thruway Service Areas and approximately 840 retailers across the state.

To sign up for an E-ZPass account , go to www.E-ZPassNY.com; at E-ZPass Customer Service Centers; or by calling the E-ZPass Toll Free Customer Service Center at 1-800-333-TOLL (8655). E-ZPass can be paid for with a credit card, check, money order or in person at any E-ZPass Customer Service Center.

SEE ALSO: Going Cashless: Toll Freeze, Commuter Discounts on the TZB