For many drivers on the Pennsylvania Turnpike, the shift to all-electronic tolling has made the actual tolls charged to them less visible. With paper tickets and exit messages and lights at toll booths now a part of the Turnpike’s history, customers have to wait until they receive a bill or check their E-ZPass account statement to find out how much they were charged, and if that amount was correct.
 
This delay makes it less obvious when an E-ZPass transponder can’t be read properly, resulting in the driver being charged a flat toll rate called a “v-toll.” Gaps between the transaction date and posting date further cut into the appeal window that customers have. And the recent switch to Open Road Tolling creates more points where a transponder is read – and more opportunities for a technical issue to occur that could trigger a v-toll charge. But especially for E-ZPass customers with auto-replenishment enabled for their accounts, by the time they notice something has gone wrong, it may be too late for them to appeal, even if it wasn’t their fault. 
 
That is why I plan to introduce legislation that would require the PA Turnpike to allow no less than six months for customers to appeal video tolls or flat video tolls that have been posted to their accounts. This change would give drivers more time to notice problems and file timely appeals, instead of leaving them stuck with excessive fees that can’t be corrected. Please join me in co-sponsoring this legislation to adapt our policies to modern toll billing practices and ensure Turnpike drivers are treated fairly.