PA Could Tweak Turnpike Toll Collection Notification System

HARRISBURG, PA — The Pennsylvania Turnpike Commission soon could be required to notify E-ZPass customers if they are charged with what is known as V-toll, which is issued to customers when their transponder isn't detected when their vehicle enters or exits a turnpike exit.

State Rep. Ryan Warner plans to introduce legislation to obligate the turnpike commission to provide notification emails when V-tolls are issued. The Fayette County Republican says that more than 200,000 motorists have been subject to v-tolling totaling millions of dollars this year because of detection errors that occur because of a transponder's age or improper placement.

A V-toll is a flat $10 fee that might be more than an E-ZPass toll if the motorist is only traveling one or two turnpike exits.

"Unfortunately, because E-ZPass toll and fee charges are automatically withdrawn, and because V-tolls have frequently been mislabeled on monthly statements, it has taken customers months, or even years, to realize that they have been charged these fees," Warner wrote in a recent memo to colleagues. "Customers may request an adjustment of their v-toll charges, however the process is reportedly difficult and, unless you can prove that the transponder malfunctioned, the adjustment is restricted to a period of 90 days."

V-tolling isn't the only issue with the toll collection system. According to reports in September, the turnpike commission lost more than $100 million in uncollected tolls in a one-year period, as motorists without E-ZPass never pad tolls through the state's license camera system.

That revelation has prompted legislation in the House that would restore some in-person toll collecting during peak hours to prevent motorists without the E-ZPass from riding toll free.

Warner suggested that his bill could provide a band-aid to the turnpike commission's bruised image over the uncollected tolls.

"Sending notification to the consumer that a V-toll has been issued is an easy way to let the consumer know that the transponder is either faulty or has been improperly located," he wrote. "This simple safeguard would go a long way towards recovering and improving consumer confidence in our turnpike tolling system."

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