The Pennsylvania Turnpike Commission has referred more than 100 egregious toll violation cases to the state attorney general’s office.
It is part of a “new strategic partnership” between the organizations to enhance toll enforcement as the turnpike converts to its open-road tolling system.
“Our partnership with the Attorney General’s Office is a powerful example of how collaboration drives accountability and fairness,” said Michael Carroll, chair of the PTC and state secretary of transportation. “The vast majority of our customers pay their tolls. But, if someone chooses to use our road and intentionally avoids payment, they will be held accountable by the attorney general.”
The cases involve drivers who owe more than $12,000 in unpaid tolls.
The PTC said that toll collection enforcement traditionally has three phases. First, toll-by-plate invoices are sent to the registered owner’s address. If unpaid, the individual is handed over to a collection agency. If payment is still not made, and the customer has four or more outstanding toll-by-plate invoices or owes tolls and fees of $250 or more, their vehicle registration is suspended by PennDOT.
Driving with a suspended registration may lead to significant fines, license suspension and immediate car impounding.
Individuals who choose to ignore standard collection efforts may be referred to the attorney general’s Civil Law Division for further enforcement actions, including having civil collection actions filed against them.
“More than half a million people use the Pennsylvania Turnpike daily to get to work, visit their families, or go on vacation. When people driving on our turnpike try to evade paying their tolls, it shifts the cost burden onto other law-abiding motorists,” Pennsylvania Attorney General Dave Sunday said. “When you receive a toll by plate invoice in the mail from the Pennsylvania Turnpike, it is important you pay that invoice on time to avoid legal action being taken.”
The turnpike said it successfully collects 92%-94% of transactions within 60 days, aligning with nationwide industry standards. As of November, it has collected more than $56 million in unpaid tolls and fees from violators.
From June 2023 to May 2024, the turnpike reported a projected total of $187 million in unpaid tolls. That is an increase of $10 million from the previous year.
Meanwhile, state Sen. Lisa Boscola, D-Northampton, has introduced a bill to collect unpaid tolls by garnishing violators’ lottery winnings and state income tax refunds.
Senate Bill 572, which has a bipartisan group of co-sponsors, is in the Senate Transportation Committee.
“Unfortunately, the law-abiding turnpike users who continue to pay their tolls trip-after-trip are being punished by this loss in toll revenue, with continued toll increases,” Boscola said in a memo to colleagues. “I find it imperative we step up enforcement and give the turnpike additional tools to go after these offenders.”