Proposed legislation would cap E-ZPass late fees in N.Y.

STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. — Legislation newly introduced in Albany looks to limit the amount of fines issued for unpaid E-ZPass tolls at New York’s bridges, tunnels and crossings.

Assemblymember Michael Reilly, a Republican who represents Staten Island’s South Shore, recently introduced the Toll Payer Advocacy and Relief Act, which would aim to address drivers’ claims of inadequate notification about billing issues.

If it is signed into law, the bill would extend the amount of time before late fees are issued to 180 days after a toll is incurred.

Under the current state law for cashless tolling, late fees are tacked on 30 days after a toll is issued.

The legislation would also cap the amount of fine, fees, an administrative charges associated with a late payment at 10% of the original toll.

In providing an example, Reilly explained that if the peak toll on the Outerbridge Crossing is $15.38, then the maximum fine under his bill would be $1.53.

Currently, anyone who has a violation for unpaid tolls is charged on a sliding scale. This starts at $50 for a driver’s first violation, increased to $100, or fives times, the evaded toll for the second violation, and jumps to $150, or 10 times, the evaded toll for the third and all subsequent violations within 18 months of the first violation.

In addition, Reilly’s legislation would create a one-time amnesty program for drivers with an outstanding balance of unpaid tolls.

If a driver pays all overdue tolls within 180 days of the bill becoming law, then all late fees would be waived.

“For far too long, New Yorkers have been subjected to unfair practices resulting in excessive penalties from tolling authorities, placing them even deeper into financial hardship,” Reilly said in a statement.

“The Toll Payer Advocacy and Relief Act is the most substantial piece of active legislation on the subject in the New York State Legislature, and would provide meaningful relief for thousands of working and middle-class New Yorkers by capping late fees, providing time to pay down overdue tolls, and establish meaningful avenues for recourse with erroneous tolling,” he continued.

If passed, the Toll Payer Advocacy and Relief Act would have the New York Department of Transportation review the regulations and policies of each agency that can issue tolls in the state.

Finally, the bill would require the Office of the Toll Payer Advocates at various New York tolling agencies to respond to requests for help within 48 hours and resolve issues within 60 days.

The New York State Department of Transportation declined to comment on the legislation.

In 2019, the New York State Thruway Authority, MTA Bridges and Tunnels and the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey, among others, announced the creation of the Offices of the Toll Payer Advocate.

These offices are responsible for assisting customers whose issues cannot be resolved by the E-ZPass New York Customer Service Center, and recommending customer service, administrative and systemwide reforms to the state’s cashless tolling program.

The offices also investigate any claims of malpractice against the tolling agencies to ensure fair and responsive service.