Taking a toll
Observer-Reporter
A vehicle approaches the toll gate on the Mon-Fayette Expressway in this file photo.
Toll plaza at the Elco exit of the Mon-Fayette Expressway
The toll plaza on the Mon-Fayette Expressway just before the Elco exit.
Pennsylvanians with overdue toll violations have less than a month to pay, or risk having their vehicle registration suspended.
Starting Aug. 4, motorists with six or more outstanding toll violations, or those with unpaid tolls and fees totaling $500 or more, are at risk of suspension under Act 165 of 2016.
“Our customers pay tolls so we can keep our roadway safe and in good repair and meet our obligation to PennDOT to help fund mass-transit services statewide,” said Turnpike Chief Executive Officer Mark Compton in a news release.
“Now, those who are habitually taking a free ride – both private and commercial drivers – will have to stop doing that, or risk a suspension. It’s simply not fair to those who do pay their fair share.”
Until the Aug. 4 implementation date, delinquent motorists who pay can have additional fees waived through a partial amnesty program.
“Last week, letters explaining our partial amnesty plan were mailed to those at imminent risk of suspension. While repeat violators may have ignored multiple past attempts to collect outstanding tolls and penalties, this is a notice they should not ignore,” Compton said.
Anyone with an outstanding toll bill or violation can take advantage of the partial amnesty program, not just those at the highest levels of violation.”
The Turnpike Commission said that, as of June 23, the 10,611 at risk of suspension mailed a total of 280,855 violation notices and invoices – totaling more than 26 letters per scofflaw.
Turnpike Commission spokesman Carl DeFebo said before the new law, the only recourse the commission had was to send two violation notices, then send the debt to a collection agency.
“Previously, the Turnpike (Commission) would write that off,” he said. “There was no teeth in the law, no strong incentive.”
A breakdown of toll violations of those eligible for registration suspension goes back three years.
Toll violations by Washington County residents who are at risk for license suspension total $347,000. Washington County ranks 10th in the state for number of violations. Greene County violators owe $28,800, and Fayette violators, ranking fourth, owe $742,000. At-risk residents of Westmoreland, which ranks sixth in the number of violations, owe $879,900.
Other than the top 10 turnpike interchanges with the highest percent of violations, the commission does not have a breakdown of toll violations by road. The Mon-Fayette Expressway does not rank in the top 10.
To learn more about the partial amnesty program, or to check unpaid PA Turnpike toll violations, visit www.PATurnpike.com/violation enforcement. To pay, call 1-877-PennPass.