House Co-Sponsorship Memoranda

Last year, more than $104 million in Pennsylvania Turnpike tolls went uncollected due to numerous issues as the agency shifted to all-electronic tolling. As the Turnpike continues to operate with a debt exceeding $14 billion and projected annual toll increases for the foreseeable future, it is vital that the Commonwealth take action to address these revenue losses. 
 

In addition to fiscal questions, these uncollected tolls also raise fairness questions. Each free ride that goes unenforced along the Turnpike negatively impacts our toll-paying customers who, as a result of the Turnpike’s heavy financial burdens, are faced with the choice of either paying ever-climbing tolls to keep using this highway, or a longer commute to avoid this toll road altogether. As the Turnpike’s ridership recovers from the pandemic, we need to ensure that toll-paying customers continue to use the Turnpike.
 

Currently, toll violators are subject to a suspension of their vehicle’s registration if they have at least six unpaid tolls, or total unpaid dues of at least $500, with a three-year statute of limitations. This suspension is indefinite and continues until a violator’s outstanding tolls are fully paid. My legislation will lower the threshold needed to trigger a registration suspension from six violations of unpaid tolls to four violations, or from $500 in total unpaid dues to $250, and raise the statute of limitations from three years to five years.
 

Please join me in this effort to improve tolling enforcement and customer fairness along the Pennsylvania Turnpike.