Bill to Crack Down on NYS Toll Evasion Passes Senate: Carlucci

From the Office of the Senator: Earlier today the NYS Senate passed, S1726 by Senator David Carlucci (D-Rockland/Westchester) to mandate the DMV suspend or deny vehicle registrations for persistent toll evaders. With full implementation of this crack down, New York would gain back more than $16 million per year in unpaid violations, most of which occur at the Tappan Zee Bridge toll in Nyack.

"Chronic toll evaders are taking money out of the pockets of the hard working residents of our state who play by the rules," Carlucci stated. " We must send a loud clear message that those who continue to avoid paying their fair share will face consequences." Carlucci's legislation would suspend the registration of anyone with 5 or more outstanding violations and would also prevent these individuals from obtaining a new one.

Under current law, courts and administrative tribunals are authorized to transmit the information the DMV but these entities only track violations within their own geographic jurisdiction. Therefore, the only time a multiple violator is reported to the DMV is when they have accumulated five or more violations within one jurisdiction. "With a tremendous need to reinvest in our infrastructure we must ensure we are accounting for every single cent of toll intake before considering raising tolls further on already burdened commuters ," Carlucci concluded.

Photo courtesy of the Office of the Senator