State Sen. Leory Comrie (D-St. Albans) last Thursday called on the MTA to implement a cashless toll amnesty program for all New York City residents who use bridges and tunnels in the five boroughs, similar to a program that had been enacted for drivers crossing the Mario Cuomo-Tappan Zee Bridge.
“While cashless tolling is not in itself a bad thing, the current system is wholly unfair to individuals who depend on the MTA’s bridges and tunnels,” Comrie said in a statement issued March 1.
Cashless tolling was implemented at all New York City crossings late last year in an effort to reduce congestion. But many drivers using E-ZPass say they’re having problems with credit cards linked to the system not being recognized, or not being notified of a low balance on their account, leading them to receive fines. The issue has been prevalent at the Cross Bay Veterans Memorial Bridge, which connects Broad Channel to Rockaway, with residents from the peninsula and the mainland alike calling to complain that they have received hundreds or thousands of dollars in fines.
“MTA dropped the ball and needs to step up and take responsibility for this hardship they are causing to our communities,” Assemblywoman Stacey Pheffer Amato (D-Rockaway Park) said in a statement.
Pheffer Amato is trying to make driving on the Cross Bay bridge free for all state residents — it’s the only intra-borough or intra-county toll in New York.
Drivers who crossed the Tappan Zee were given amnesty earlier this year by the New York Thruway Authority and more than 150,000 violations were wiped away — the forgiveness program has since ended. Comrie did not say how long he’d like the New York City program to be. The senator has also introduced a bill that would cap fines for unpaid tolls at twice the cost of the original toll for three months and three times the original cost for the following three.
Elected officials say it’s unfair to fine people $100 for not paying an $8.50 toll.
There was no Assembly version of the bill at press time.
“Though we should hold individuals accountable, we have to find sensible means of doing so,” said Assemblywoman Alicia Hyndman (D-Springfield Gardens). “Things like a consumer friendly fee waiver and lowering the late fee can help to alleviate these issues.”
An MTA spokesman in a statement did not say whether an amnesty program may come to Queens.
“We work closely with our customers to resolve any issues or disputes, and will continue our courtesy of waiving first-time violation notice fees upon full payment of tolls,” the spokesman said. “This courtesy is an important piece of our move to all electronic tolling.”
The National Motorists Association applauded Comrie’s request.
“To fine motorists exorbitant late fees is counterproductive and amnesty measures should be taken immediately until a better system can be implemented,” National Motorists Association Communications Director Shelia Dunn said in a statement issued by the senator’s office. “In the meantime, the MTA needs to work harder to educate motorists about toll fees and any amnesty program put in place.”
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