Starting today, the New York State Department of Motor Vehicles has the authority to suspend the vehicle registration of toll evaders.
The new regulation allows the New York State DMV to suspend the registration of any commercial vehicle with $200 or more in unpaid tolls in the last five years.
The DMV can also suspend the vehicle registration of any passenger vehicle with three or more unpaid toll violations in the past five years.
The regulation is effective for all New York tolling authorities, including the Metropolitan Transportation Authority, the New York State Thruway Authority, the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey, and the New York State Bridge Authority.
From a news release from New York Governor Cuomo on the crackdown of toll evaders:
Tolling authorities will send violators notices for each toll violation, advising them of the amount owed, how to pay, and how to dispute the alleged violation. If the violator fails to pay the tolls, fees or other charges, or have such tolls, fees or charges dismissed in response to the multiple notices, the tolling authority will refer the violator to DMV for further action.
Prior to a registration suspension, vehicle owners may request a hearing before a DMV administrative law judge. If the registrant requests a hearing, the suspension will not take effect, pending the conclusion of the hearing; if no hearing is requested, the suspension will take effect as declared in the notice, and the registration suspension will remain in effect until the tolling authority notifies DMV that the motorist has paid the outstanding tolls, fees, and other charges.
Says Cuomo: “Toll evaders flaunt the law and do so on the backs of hard working New Yorkers who play by the rules. This action provides new tools to ensure these scofflaws pay their fair share, as well as support new automatic tolling initiatives that will decrease congestion and modernize New York’s transportation system.”
Sources:
Nyack Patch
Albany Times-Union
WHEC