PA Turnpike Toll Scofflaws Targeted Under New State Law

HARRISBURG, PA — If you owe the Pennsylvania Turnpike Commission unpaid tolls, you might want to pay those delinquencies immediately. Gov. Tom Wolf has signed into law a measure that could result in turnpike scofflaws having their vehicle registrations suspended beginning early next year.

The new law lowers the thresholds that trigger registration suspensions for Pennsylvania vehicle owners with unpaid tolls and fees from $500 to $250. Additionally, the law lowers the number of unpaid toll-by-plate invoices or violations from six to four and extends the statute of limitations for unpaid invoices or violations from three years to five years.

“The fact is that uncollected tolls are largely due to drivers dodging their responsibilities," Turnpike Commission CEO Mark Compton said in a statement. "These customers receive invoices but simply choose not to pay. This legislation will allow us to better hold accountable those who intentionally cheat the system.”

The law takes effect in January, and turnpike officials estimate that 25,000 additional vehicle registrations would qualify for suspension under the new regulations. If convicted, penalties for operating a vehicle with a suspended registration can include:

• A mandatory, three-month driver’s license suspension.
• Fines of up to $500 plus court costs.
• Higher auto-insurance rates.
• A record of the violation on the offender’s driver history.