BILL NUMBER: S9511
SPONSOR: COMRIE
 
TITLE OF BILL:
An act to amend the public authorities law, in relation to limiting
certain fees and fines for tolls charged by a public authority
 
PURPOSE:
To limit excessive fees and penalties associated with toll violations,
ensure such charges are reasonably related to actual costs, enhance
transparency in tolling practices, and provide motorists with greater
procedural protections.
 
SUMMARY OF PROVISIONS:
This bill amends sections 2855, 2985, and 2985-a of the public authori-
ties law to establish guardrails on toll-related fees and penalties. It
requires that administrative charges for toll obligations of $200 or
less be limited to the actual cost of processing such charges, and caps
monetary penalties for low-value toll violations on a graduated basis.
The bill further restricts the ability of public authorities to enter or
enforce judgments for unpaid tolls totaling $200 or less over a five-
year period.
Additionally, the bill permits vehicle owners to designate an agent,
including an attorney or elected official, to resolve toll disputes;
requires public authorities to prominently publish fee waiver policies;
and imposes limits on escalating violation fees relative to the underly-
ing toll amount. A temporary fee waiver provision is also established
for individuals who pay outstanding tolls in full. Finally, the bill
requires reporting by public authorities on tolling errors, disputed
charges, and corrective actions to improve system accountability.
 
JUSTIFICATION:
New York's transition to cashless tolling has improved efficiency but
has also resulted in a proliferation of excessive fees and penalties
that can far exceed the value of the original toll. In many cases, minor
toll obligations can quickly escalate into significant financial burdens
due to compounding administrative fees, penalties, and enforcement mech-
anisms.
This bill restores proportionality and fairness to the tolling system by
ensuring that fees bear a reasonable relationship to the cost incurred
by public authorities and by scaling penalties to the severity and
frequency of violations. It also strengthens due process by allowing
individuals to designate representatives in disputes and by increasing
transparency around fee waivers and billing practices. Importantly, the
bill addresses concerns regarding the entry of civil judgments for rela-
tively minor toll amounts, which can have long-lasting financial conse-
quences for motorists. By placing reasonable limits on such enforcement
actions, the legislation prevents undue hardship while preserving the
ability of authorities to collect legitimate toll revenues.
The reporting requirements included in the bill will further ensure
accountability and help identify systemic issues in toll collection,
including erroneous billing and enforcement practices.
 
LEGISLATIVE HISTORY:
New bill.
 
FISCAL IMPLICATIONS:
Any minimal reduction in fee-based revenue is expected to be offset by
improved compliance, increased transparency, and reduced administrative
and enforcement costs.
 
EFFECTIVE DATE:
This act shall take effect immediately, with certain provisions subject
to the enactment of corresponding legislation by the State of New Jersey
as it relates to the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey.

Statutes affected:
S9511: 2855 public authorities law, 2985 public authorities law, 2985(5) public authorities law, 2985(8) public authorities law