The Pennsylvania Turnpike Commission is escalating its efforts to crack down on drivers who repeatedly ignore toll bills and has referred more than 100 cases of “egregious” violations to the Pennsylvania Attorney General’s Office for civil enforcement action.
The move is a step aimed at drivers who owe more than $12,000 in tolls and fees and have chosen to bypass the Turnpike’s standard collection efforts.
“Our partnership with the attorney general’s office is a powerful example of how collaboration drives accountability and fairness,” said Mike Carroll, chairman of the Pennsylvania Turnpike Commission and PennDOT secretary. “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.”
Toll collection enforcement typically follows a three-phase approach before a driver faces severe consequences, including mailed invoices, handing the account over to a collection agency, and suspending vehicle registration through PennDOT if a driver four or more outstanding Toll-By-Plate invoices or owes $250 or more in tolls and fees.
Driving with a suspended registration is a criminal offense that can result in fines, a suspended driver’s license, and immediate vehicle impounding, officials warn.
The Turnpike works with law enforcement using license plate recognition technology on and off the highway to identify these vehicles, officials said.
The partnership with the Pennsylvania Attorney General’s Office is designed to target those drivers who ignore the civil collection phase, which can now include the filing of civil collection actions.
The Turnpike has worked with the Bucks County District Attorney’s Office on serious toll evasion cases.
“More than half a million people use the Pennsylvania Turnpike daily to get to work, visit their families, or go on vacation,” said Pennsylvania Attorney General Dave Sunday. “When people driving on our turnpike try to evade paying their tolls, it shifts the cost burden onto other law-abiding motorists. When you receive a Toll By Plate invoice in the mail from the Pennsylvania Turnpike, it is important you pay that invoice on time to avoid legal action being taken.”
Turnpike officials note that the agency successfully collects between 92 to 94 percent of transactions within 60 days.
The commission has strengthened its enforcement strategy, which had led to a surge in recovered funds, over the past five years.
Since 2020, the Turnpike has collected more than $56 million in unpaid tolls and fees from violators through increased enforcement and growing use of payment plans.
To make compliance easier, the commission has expanded payment options to include Google and Apple Pay and added its KUBRA cash payment network to over 85,000 retail locations.
“We continue to offer more ways to pay a PA Turnpike invoice to deliver on customer convenience,” added Mark Compton, CEO of the Pennsylvania Turnpike Commission. “That said, pursuing those who refuse to pay is one way we’re working to make system access and costs more equitable.”
The Turnpike is a limited access toll road and does not receive tax dollars for its operations. Its funding for maintenance, construction, and other operating costs is financed entirely by travelers who use the road, officials said.
While E-ZPass offers up to 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 responders. The commission got rid of human toll collectors in 2020.
Studies have found that the Pennsylvania Turnpike is the most expensive toll road when looking at cost by the mile. However, Turnpike officials dispute the claim by arguing that using E-ZPass makes it rank at 15th most expensive and notes it is the second longest toll road in the nation.
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