Turnpike collects $300,000 in tolls

Scofflaws scurried to pay on debts

The Pennsylvania Turnpike saw a flurry of activity last week as the end of its amnesty program for toll scofflaws approached and collected an additional $300,000 in tolls motorists had avoided paying.

Turnpike spokeswoman Rosanne Placey said Friday another 438 violators contacted the agency between Aug. 2 and Aug. 4 to pay or make arrangements to pay old debts. The turnpike offered an amnesty program for about a month in which violators could avoid a portion of late fees and administrative costs by paying outstanding tolls by Aug. 4, when a law went into effect that allows the agency to suspend the vehicle registrations of any violator with six unpaid tolls or unpaid fees of more than $500 if they avoid tolls again.

The turnpike has unpaid tolls of more than $50 million over the past three years, more than $17 million of which was created by 10,611 repeat violators who could have their vehicle registrations suspended if they have another violation.

Ms. Placey said the 438 additional violators who contacted the agency on the last three days brings the total number of motorists who paid or made arrangements to pay to 2,083. The total amount of money collected during the amnesty period was $1,429,609.

Turnpike CEO Mark Compton said the agency has continued to receive calls after the deadline and is working with motorists to quietly continue the amnesty program. He stressed the agency is granting some reduction in administrative fees or penalties but is not letting any of the delinquent motorists avoid paying outstanding tolls.

“When we announced last week the amnesty period was coming to an end, we received a lot of calls and that continued this week,” Mr. Compton said. “We’re working with those people to pay the tolls, but we’re still willing to talk about reducing the administrative fees.

“I want to make it clear that we’re very strict that we want to get the toll costs. We are recouping all of the toll dollars.”

So far, the agency hasn’t moved to suspend the vehicle registration of any scofflaws who continued to avoid tolls after the new law began.