A Pennsylvania lawmaker is raising concerns about the state turnpike commission’s plan to notify drivers via text messages about unpaid tolls, warning it could lead to confusion and fear due to widespread scam texts. Proposed legislationRep. Mary Isaacson of Philadelphia has issued a co-sponsorship memo proposing legislation to prohibit the turnpike commission and all state agencies from using text messaging to notify residents about or collect unpaid fines, fees, or tolls. “After we have spent a lot of time both through public service announcements and through distributions in our office, whether it’s emails or notifications educating the public not to fall for these scams, we now have a commission going out there and saying, wait, you might want to ignore the scam that was sent saying it was from us, but this is us and it’s legitimate,” Isaacson said. “People are going to be confused. It’s going to cause chaos and a lot of fear amongst people.” The turnpike commission and consumer advocates have warned residents for years not to click on links or respond to scam text messages claiming to be from the commission.Isaacson suggests that instead of texts, the commission should send notifications through the mail and encourage residents to log into their E-ZPass accounts to check for unpaid tolls.Consumer Protection Concerns”I think that people should just be very aware that we have to protect consumers. I understand about collections. I understand about fees that are due to this Commonwealth, but we have to be responsible in the way that we reach out to the public and notify them and collect money from them. And through text messages is not necessarily the best way to go about it,” Isaacson said. “Government does not notify you by text, not the federal government, not the IRS, and certainly we should make sure our commissions here in Pennsylvania don’t do that either.” Isaacson said she has already gained support from other lawmakers for her proposal. The turnpike commission declined to comment on Isaacson’s memo when contacted.
A Pennsylvania lawmaker is raising concerns about the state turnpike commission’s plan to notify drivers via text messages about unpaid tolls, warning it could lead to confusion and fear due to widespread scam texts.
Proposed legislation
Rep. Mary Isaacson of Philadelphia has issued a co-sponsorship memo proposing legislation to prohibit the turnpike commission and all state agencies from using text messaging to notify residents about or collect unpaid fines, fees, or tolls.
“After we have spent a lot of time both through public service announcements and through distributions in our office, whether it’s emails or notifications educating the public not to fall for these scams, we now have a commission going out there and saying, wait, you might want to ignore the scam that was sent saying it was from us, but this is us and it’s legitimate,” Isaacson said. “People are going to be confused. It’s going to cause chaos and a lot of fear amongst people.”
The turnpike commission and consumer advocates have warned residents for years not to click on links or respond to scam text messages claiming to be from the commission.
Isaacson suggests that instead of texts, the commission should send notifications through the mail and encourage residents to log into their E-ZPass accounts to check for unpaid tolls.
Consumer Protection Concerns
“I think that people should just be very aware that we have to protect consumers. I understand about collections. I understand about fees that are due to this Commonwealth, but we have to be responsible in the way that we reach out to the public and notify them and collect money from them. And through text messages is not necessarily the best way to go about it,” Isaacson said. “Government does not notify you by text, not the federal government, not the IRS, and certainly we should make sure our commissions here in Pennsylvania don’t do that either.”
Isaacson said she has already gained support from other lawmakers for her proposal.
The turnpike commission declined to comment on Isaacson’s memo when contacted.