MTA Proposes Tough New Plan To Crack Down On Toll Evaders
NEW YORK (CBSNewYork) -- The Metropolitan Transportation Authority is looking to crack down on toll evaders.
Approximately 800,000 cars use the bridges and tunnels across New York City on an average weekday, and many motorists have been evading the tolls.
The MTA said most offenders are on the Henry Hudson Bridge, which has gateless and cashless tolls. Since the system was put in place in 2012, the MTA has been trying to collect $6 million from commuters, CBS2's Ilana Gold reported.
A lot of people have been abusing the system. The MTA said most offenders are on the Henry Hudson Bridge which has new gateless and cashless tolls.
Drivers not using E-ZPass get a bill in the mail, and the MTA said about 30 percent of those people never pay.
Even though there's a penalty, the MTA cannot collect the money so now the agency is looking for a new way to crack down on offenders.
"You don't want a significant portion of those people not paying," said Robert Sinclair Jr. of AAA Northeast.
The proposed MTA enforcement plan would suspend the vehicle registrations of drivers who fail to pay five tolls or other violations within 18 months, and ignore repeated notices to remedy the unpaid charges, WCBS 880's Mike Xirinachs reported. The New York State Department of Motor Vehicles proposed a regulation last month.
Driver response to the proposal was mixed.
"I don't think that's harsh at all, you gotta pay," driver Frank Deuceman said.
"I'm all for it, there's too many people that don't pay," another driver said.
"I think they're overstepping their boundaries," another said. "I think the MTA is only concerned about making the money."
Gov. Andrew Cuomo said it sends a strong message to scofflaws.
"New York's transportation network relies on drivers paying their fair share and those who evade tolls put an unfair burden on other law-abiding motorists," Cuomo said in a statement. "This ramped up enforcement sends the message that these actions will not be tolerated and will keep those who ignore their responsibilities off our roadways."
The proposal would effect the MTA's seven bridges and two tunnels in New York City.
The full MTA board will consider the plan Wednesday before it goes to a public hearing.
If approved, the new rules would go into effect sometime in the spring.
The MTA is also planning to expand the cashless toll system. A spokesperson said the agency makes money off cashless tolls, it's more efficient for commuters, and it's a system that's being used more frequently across the East Coast.
"It's the wave of the future. A lot of systems are doing that up and down the east coast," Sinclair said.
The next bridge to get an upgrade will be Marine Parkways in the Rockaways.
The entire state may adopt the penalties which would include the Tappan Zee and Bear Mountain Bridges, and the New York State Thruway.
