Lohud’s Editorial Board sits down with Matt Driscoll, the acting executive director of the NYS Thruway Authority. John Meore/lohud
ALBANY - More than 1,000 motorists paid off outstanding tolls at the Gov. Mario M. Cuomo Bridge within the first four days of a cashless toll amnesty program, according to the state Thruway Authority.
Matthew Driscoll, acting executive director of the state Thruway Authority, revealed the early figures from the five-week amnesty program during a hearing Thursday afternoon on the transportation initiatives in Gov. Andrew Cuomo's state budget proposal.
Participation has been strong, according to Driscoll.
In all, 1,161 customers paid $49,000 in tolls from Monday through about 11 a.m. Thursday.
Driscoll said the payments resolved about 9,700 cashless tolling violations at the bridge and its predecessor, the Tappan Zee Bridge.
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The amnesty program allows individual drivers to pay overdue tolls dating from April 24, 2016 through Jan. 31, 2018 without paying a late fee, which normally runs $100 per unpaid toll after 60 days.
The program runs through Feb. 26 and the Thruway anticipates forgoing $3 million in late fees, according to Driscoll.
“On Feb. 1 we will be mailing letters and notifications to people who are still in this situation and they have through Feb. 26 to enter the amnesty program and take advantage of a great opportunity to wipe the slate clean," Driscoll told state lawmakers Thursday.
The Thruway Authority launched the amnesty program after receiving complaints from drivers hit with hundreds of dollars in late fees at the Mario Cuomo and Tappan Zee bridges connecting Westchester and Rockland.
The authority launched a cashless-tolling system at the then-Tappan Zee Bridge in April 2016. Drivers without E-ZPass pass through overhead toll gantries at highway speed and receive a bill in the mail rather than paying a worker in a toll booth.
Drivers draw a stiff fine if they don't pay the bridge toll, which is $5 for a Westchester-bound passenger car.
If the toll is unpaid after 30 days, a second notice is mailed and a $5 late fee is attached.
If it's unpaid after 60 days, a third notice is sent and the late fee jumps to $100.
At the hearing Thursday, Driscoll touted the changes the authority has made to better promote the cashless-tolling system, including increased signage at the bridge itself.
He said the Thruway will consider lowering the $100 fine, though he said he was not prepared to make that decision yet.
Driscoll credited lohud/The Journal News for suggesting better marking envelopes to ensure motorists know they have received a bill, which the Thruway Authority has done.
“It was an idea from The Journal News and I thought it was a good one," Driscoll said. "We’ve changed the envelope and now there’s no missing what the envelope is there for.”
Will this system work? We'll keep checking in with the Thruway. Tell us your stories of working with the amnesty program by emailing digital@lohud.com with the subject line "Amnesty" or calling 914-510-2181 and leaving a message.