More than 100 cases of egregious toll evaders, including several Bucks and Montgomery County drivers, have been referred by the Pennsylvania Turnpike Commission to the state Attorney General’s Office in a new strategic partnership aimed at halting repeat offenders like those who owe $12,000 apiece. Violators face significant fines, license suspension, and immediate car impoundment. Under the new program, drivers who don’t pay tolls and fees will be referred to the Attorney General’s Civil Law Division and subject to “civil collection actions,” according to the Turnpike Commission. “Our partnership with the Attorney General’s Office is a powerful example of how collaboration drives accountability and fairness,” said Michael Carroll, chairman of the Pennsylvania Turnpike Commission, and Pennsylvania 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.” Parenting with the Attorney General provides “an additional layer of accountability” for those drivers, said Carroll. Bucks and Montgomery have some of the highest daily traffic volume on the turnpike system, and previous studies have shown those drivers accounted for more than one third of all statewide toll violations. Toll collecting traditionally is done in 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 individual has four or more outstanding invoices, or owes tolls and fees totaling more than $250 or more, their vehicle registration is suspended by PennDOT. “Driving with a suspended registration is a serious traffic violation that may lead to significant fines, license suspensions, and immediate car impounding,” said Carroll. The Pennsylvania Turnpike successfully collects between 92-94 percent of transactions within 60 days, aligning with nationwide industry standards. “More than half a million people use the Pennsylvania Turnpike daily to get to work, visit their families, or go on vacation,” said Dave Sunday, state Attorney General. “When people driving on our turnpike try to evade paying their tolls, it shifts the cost burden onto other law-abiding motorists.” While E-ZPass offers as much as a 50 percent savings on tolls, the commission also provides a 15 percent discount for Toll-By-Plate customers who pre-register and verify their email address and credit card. The turnpike charges tolls using overhead gantries that use Toll-By-Plate technology and read E-ZPass transponders. The turnpike eliminated human toll collectors in 2020.
https://www.trentonian.com/2025/11/23/toll-evaders-in-bucks-and-montgomery-counties-now-face-serious-actions/
Toll evaders in Bucks and Montgomery Counties now face serious actions
