Deadbeat drivers racked up $5.1 billion in unpaid MTA tolls and violations over four years. This is likely to have skyrocketed after the 'Cashless' system replaced the old payment booths, records reveal.
The Flaring Metropolitan Transportation Authority has a total of more than $1.4 billion in 2024 alone and a total of $3.7 billion from 2021 to 2023, according to financial charts included in a request for proposals submitted to potential debt collectors. It was estimated to be $1 billion.
And the annual loss in toll revenue could ultimately exceed $2 billion when including non-payment of tolls for the new $9 congestion-priced toll to enter Manhattan south of 60th Street. There is a gender.
“Instead of hitting new and very unfair victims, the MTA is urging President Trump to kill congestion pricing,” said Rep. Nicole Malliotakis (R-Staten Island/Brooklyn).
“The real problem is that Gov. Kathy Hochul and the Democratic-controlled state Legislature have created an environment where they feel they don’t have to follow the rules because the consequences are zero. punish the criminals and punish the honest, hard-working commuters.”
The newly surfaced estimate for toll fraud is much larger than what the MTA indicated in previous public statements. Megatransit agencies, which combine fare and fare evasion, are reported to cost between $700 million and $800 million annually. This is reported to be primarily due to subway and bus fare cheating rather than Toll cheats.
Rep. Mike Lawler is a lower-ranking Hudson Valley Republican running for governor.
“Between fare jumpers and fare beaters, the MTA loses a staggering $2 billion a year. This level of gross negligence is criminal, plain and simple,” Lawler said.
“The MTA needs an immediate forensic audit and a complete purge of its incompetent management team, starting with John Lieber,” he added, referring to the MTA chairman and CEO.
The MTA admits it's difficult to pay tolls after toll booths were eliminated for “cashless” tolls on open roads in 2017. The cash lane toll plaza had a gate that prohibited people from passing through without paying.
Over 90% of drivers use E-ZPass, and tolls are debited from their accounts. If they don't pay, the MTA can shut down the account.
However, data shows that the overwhelming majority of scofflaws do not have an e-zpass. The agency's readers will photograph the license plates of those who do not pay tolls electronically with their e-zpass accounts.
These drivers are billed by mail, making it difficult to collect on the debt.
“Approximately 49% of claims are pending further action, including referral to collections,” the MTA said. In the 2023 Fare and Toll Evasion Report.
However, the MTA notes that “failure to pay a bill is not classified as 'evasion' in the same way that license plate fraud is.”
MTA toll intersections include Hugh Carey/Brooklyn Battery Tunnel, Queens Midtown Tunnel, Whitestone Bridge, Throgs Neck Bridge, Verrazano Narrow Bridge, Cross Bay Bridge, Marine Parkway Bridge, Henry Budget Bridge, Robert Kennedy-Triboro Includes bridge.
The MTA did not respond to questions about numerous posts about massive toll fraud cited in its own documents sent to debt collection agencies.
But sources familiar with the bidding process say numbers are numbers and billions of dollars in toll debt were discussed with collection agencies.
Even though the MTA plans to contract with one company, the loss of Toll Beaters' revenue is so great that it is “too much” for one company to handle, the source said.
Collecting good tolls is a tall task, according to the MTA's Jan. 17 Q&A session with potential bidders.
“As of 2024, we [current] The return on all inventory is approximately 8.2%,” MTA said.
Drivers billed by mail have 30 days to submit payment to the MTA's Bridge and Tunnel Agency, after which a $5 fee will be applied for nonpayment.
After 60 days, the lack of payment will activate a violation status with a penalty of $50 for each paycheck.
After 60 days, the bill will be sent for collection.
MTA employees have some leverage. It also allows the State Department's Bureau of Motor Vehicles to suspend vehicle registrations for persistent toll violators for five years, and reciprocity with Massachusetts allows it to do the same for toll cheats living in the Bay State.
However, the agency says it will cease collection efforts on customer accounts that result in vehicle suspensions.
According to a chart provided by the MTA that was provided to potential bidders, the agency has more than 40 million “placed” or non-paying instances from 2021 to 2023, totaling $3,788.6 million. It was.
In 2024, we issued 15.72 million placements or non-fee payments totaling $1,422.8 billion.
With additional congestion tolls introduced, toll debt could ultimately exceed 33,000 nonpayments totaling $2.1 billion, authorities said in bid documents.
Critics questioned whether the MTA had the stomach for toll and fare everders.
The panel that produced the 2023 report on fare and toll fraudsters mentioned “equity” 22 times and questioned “whether toll evasion can be driven by genuine economic need.” We called for further research into whether there is a possibility of adaptation to a financial-based enforcement approach. Difficulties are guaranteed.
