6% don’t pay on Pennsylvania Turnpike
Three state’s port authorities crack down on tolling cheats
Mon, August 5th 2024
Bear Creek Twp., Luzerne Co. — The Pennsylvania Turnpike Commission is cracking down on drivers who have unpaid toll bills. The gross toll revenue for fiscal year 2024 which runs June 1, 2023 to May 31,2024 was $1.755 billion dollars, however they’re looking to collect on 6% of that revenue that has been left unpaid by drivers who haven’t paid their tolls.
The commission says that the bulk of their unpaid tolls comes from Toll-By-Plate customers and not EZ-Pass customers.
Crispin Havener, the assistant press secretary for the Pennsylvania Turnpike Commission says since switching to electronic tolling, the amount of drivers with unpaid tolls has stayed consistent at about 6% of all transactions and align with the national tolling road average.
“Toll evasion is simply an issue of fairness, it why we are actively focusing on toll collection importance and also investing in technology and working with state legislatures to support bill the help crack disown on customers who are choosing not to pay their invoices,” Havener added.
Havener says the Pennsylvania Turnpike successfully collects at about 94 percent of all vehicles detected on the roadway.
After the Commission approved a 5% increase for E-ZPass and Toll by Plate customers in July of 2023, the most common toll for a passenger vehicle is $1.90 for E-ZPass customers and $4.70 for Toll by Plate customers.
Oscar Seda, who owns an automotive company and has to travel on the turnpike everyday, fears toll prices may continue to increase because of people avoiding paying their tolls.
“I find it unfair because you’re supposed to pay your tolls, maybe that’s why they’re trying up the prices so anyone that paying end up being charged more,” Seda said.
Jeremy Lewis, who says due to how expensive the turnpike can get, he avoids taking the it as much as possible.
“We go up to Allentown, our grandparents live up there so every now and again we take it, but I try to avoid it as much as I can because it does get a little expensive,” Lewis added.
Port Authority cracks down on toll cheats
By Matthew Fazelpoor//August 6, 2024//
Over the first six months of 2024, the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey issued summonses and made arrests at a record clip. The activity comes amid an effort to turn up the heat on toll cheats.
That work has included intensified patrols and multi-agency efforts to apprehend drivers who skip out on paying their tolls. According to the Port Authority Police Department, from Jan. 1 – June 30:
- A total 4,836 summonses were issued for toll-related violations — a 55% increase over the same period in 2023;
- 3,940 citations were issued for obstructed, missing/or fictitious license plates; and
- 63 individuals were arrested for theft of service and fictitious license plates — a 54% increase over the same period in 2023.
“Between targeted patrols, streamlined data collection, and other resources, we’re leaving no stone unturned in our pursuit of drivers who think they can cheat the system,” said Port Authority Executive Director Rick Cotton.
“Any driver under the illusion that they can evade payment at our crossings should heed this warning: Detection is inevitable, and consequences are assured,” said Port Authority Police Superintendent Edward Cetnar.
Repeat offenders
The Port Authority says it is focused on “egregious repeat offenders.” These drivers often owe totals in the hundreds of thousands of dollars.
Officials warn that repeat toll evaders may be subject to vehicle registration suspensions and having their vehicles towed and impounded by PAPD – at the owners’ expense, as well as potential civil litigation for toll recovery.
“Toll cheats, beware: we’re cracking down with summonses and arrests up more than 50% since last year,” said Port Authority Chairman Kevin O’Toole. “Thousands of motorists have already found out the hard way that if you try to cheat your way out of paying what you owe, it’s not a question of if we’ll catch you – but when.”
“As these robust summons and arrest numbers show, we are determined and committed to ensuring drivers are following the law when they use our roadways,” said Cetnar.
