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There seems to be a rise in some New Yorkers using deceptive methods to avoid paying tolls. No one likes paying tolls, that's for sure, but there's a small group of New Yorkers who are scamming the system to get out of it. Recently, some drivers on the New York State Thruway learned a hard lesson about paying their tolls.
Ultimately, New York State can and will seize your vehicle if you choose not to pay your toll. Usually, for most people who are not making a scam of it, things start off small. When you don't pay your toll, you are subjected to a $5 late fee, according to NYTollsInfo.com. That can quickly escalate to a $50 violation. After that, you put your New York State registration at risk. Three violations in 5 years could result in your registration being suspended. It's a snowball effect from there. Driving with a suspended registration is a misdemeanor, which includes fines, jail time, and a criminal record. And as Governor Kathy Hochul and the New York State Police recently demonstrated, you could lose your vehicle and get a ticket.
Troopers with the New York State Police seized 140 vehicles in a recent crackdown.  That would suck. I wouldn't want to be them. In addition to the 140 vehicles that Troopers seized, they issued 711 tickets. It was all a part of three enforcement operations that took place on the NYS Thruway in Western New York and the Lower Hudson Valley. Troopers focused on drivers who are frequent toll violators and who have ghost plates.
The 140 drivers who had their cars impounded owe almost $125,000 in unpaid tolls – an average of $8,928 per driver. The Authority has recovered $71,000 of the money owed from 20 vehicle owners! That's crazy to owe that much in past due tolls!
Governor Hochul said,
“My administration is investing in critical infrastructure improvements that make our roads safer and more reliable, and by cracking down on unpaid fees and tolls, we’re ensuring those projects continue on time and on budget. Just 20 vehicle owners accounted for nearly 60 percent of unpaid tolls in this enforcement operation — money being taken out of your pockets — and our enforcement efforts are about keeping costs down for New Yorkers.”
If you do not have a valid registration (due to non-payment of tolls), your vehicle can be impounded in New York State. The moral of the story is to PAY YOUR TOLLS! You don't want to risk your money, car, or freedom over non-payment of a toll! You can get more info on the NYS DMV page.
*** This article is not intended to provide legal advice or counsel.
Gallery Credit: Ed Nice

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