NY State Senate Bill 2021-S3431

Archive: Last Bill Status - In Senate Committee Transportation Committee

Introduced
- In Committee Assembly
- In Committee Senate
- On Floor Calendar Assembly
- On Floor Calendar Senate
- Passed Assembly
- Passed Senate
Delivered to Governor
Signed By Governor

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Actions

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	Assembly Actions - Lowercase Senate Actions - UPPERCASE
Jan 05, 2022	referred to transportation
Jan 29, 2021	referred to transportation

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2021-S3431 (ACTIVE) - Details

Current Committee:: Senate Transportation
Law Section:: Public Authorities Law
Laws Affected:: Add §553-l, amd §1266, Pub Auth L
Versions Introduced in Other Legislative Sessions:: 2017-2018: S7823
2019-2020: S2777
2023-2024: S1258

2021-S3431 (ACTIVE) - Summary

Requires the triborough bridge authority to establish a cashless tolling amnesty program; requires the metropolitan transportation authority to post their fee waiver policy on their website.

2021-S3431 (ACTIVE) - Sponsor Memo

                                
 
BILL NUMBER: S3431

SPONSOR: COMRIE
 
TITLE OF BILL:

An act to amend the public authorities law, in relation to requiring the
triborough bridge authority to establish a cashless tolling amnesty
program and requiring the metropolitan transportation authority to post
their fee waiver policy on their website; and providing for the repeal
of certain provisions upon expiration thereof

 
PURPOSE:

To provide sensible, rational, consumer-friendly relief and reform to
the MTA's Cashless Tolling System by (1) Enacting toll amnesty for a
period of six months; (2) Providing for public disclosure of the current
MTA Fee Waiver Policy; and (3) Capping fees for toll charges at no more
than twice the original toll charge for the first three months and no
more than three times the original toll charge for fees in the four to
six month range.

SUMMARY OF PROVISIONS:

Section 1 amends the Public Authorities Law (Subsection 553-j) to
provide for a six-month amnesty program concerning all fees assessed on
MTA Bridges and Tunnels since the inception of the Cashless Tolling
program.  In addition, Section 1 provides for a capping of fees, as
follows: For the first 90 days after the original toll charge, fees
shall not be more than double the original charge; from days 91-180 fees
shall not be more than triple the original toll charge.

Section 2 requires the MTA to conspicuously post their Fee Waiver Policy
on their website.

Section 3 provides that this act shall take effect immediately and
provides for the repeal of the amnesty provisions in Section 1 after 180
days.

 
JUSTIFICATION:

Cashless Tolling-which exists on all MTA Bridges and Tunnels-is merito-
rious to the extent it is designed to ease traffic flow and make-payment
of tolls more convenient for motorists; however, implementation of the
program has revealed a number of glaring challenges that require our
collective attention and planning for remediation.

Many residents in New York City and across the State are receiving exor-
bitant bills from the MTA for toll charges that are defined as overdue
and carry $100 fees per original charge. After less than 3 months past
due, residents are receiving fines as high as $100.00 for a toll as
small as $8.50. It is not uncommon for drivers to receive bills for a
handful of trips that have now multiplied into thousands of dollars in
fiduciary obligations. While it is no doubt important that -the.MTA
discourage late payment of toll obligations, and collect toll revenue to
keep the system operating efficiently, the current system features fees
that are extraordinarily excessive; a fee waiver policy that is unavail-
able for the public to understand and other features that are simply not
pro-consumer.

This legislation will: (1) Enact toll amnesty for a period of six
months; (2) Provide for public disclosure of the current MTA Fee Waiver
Policy; and (3) Cap fees for toll charges at no more than twice the
original toll charge for the first three months and no more than three
times the original.toll charge for fees in the four to six month range.

 
LEGISLATIVE HISTORY:

S 7823 COMRIE Same as A10005 Pheffer Amato

 
FISCAL IMPLICATIONS:

To be determined.

 
EFFECTIVE DATE:
This law will take effect immediately; the toll amnesty program will
repeal after 180 days, with the rights and remedies granted by the act
before expiration to remain unaffected by such expiration.

2021-S3431 (ACTIVE) - Bill Text download pdf

                            
 
                     S T A T E   O F   N E W   Y O R K
 ________________________________________________________________________
 
                                   3431
 
                        2021-2022 Regular Sessions
 
                             I N  S E N A T E
 
                             January 29, 2021
                                ___________
 
 Introduced  by  Sens.  COMRIE, ADDABBO, BAILEY, BROOKS, FELDER, PERSAUD,
   SANDERS, SEPULVEDA, STAVISKY -- read twice and  ordered  printed,  and
   when printed to be committed to the Committee on Transportation
 
 AN ACT to amend the public authorities law, in relation to requiring the
   triborough  bridge  authority  to establish a cashless tolling amnesty
   program and requiring the  metropolitan  transportation  authority  to
   post  their  fee waiver policy on their website; and providing for the
   repeal of certain provisions upon expiration thereof
 
   THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK, REPRESENTED IN SENATE AND  ASSEM-
 BLY, DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS:
 
   Section  1.  The  public  authorities  law  is amended by adding a new
 section 553-l to read as follows:
   § 553-L. CASHLESS TOLLING AMNESTY PROGRAM. 1. NOTWITHSTANDING SUBDIVI-
 SION FIVE OF SECTION FIVE HUNDRED FIFTY-THREE OF THIS TITLE OR ANY OTHER
 LAW, THE AUTHORITY SHALL PROVIDE AN  AMNESTY  PROGRAM  FOR  ANY  PERSON,
 FIRM,  CORPORATION,  OR OTHER ENTITY CHARGED WITH THE PAYMENT OF A CASH-
 LESS TOLL FEE FOR THE USE OF  ANY  BRIDGE  OR  TUNNEL  OPERATED  BY  THE
 AUTHORITY.
   2.  SUCH AMNESTY PROGRAM SHALL ALLOW ANY PERSON, FIRM, CORPORATION, OR
 OTHER ENTITY CHARGED WITH THE PAYMENT OF A CASHLESS TOLL FEE FOR THE USE
 OF ANY BRIDGE OR TUNNEL OPERATED BY THE AUTHORITY TO PAY SUCH  TOLLS  IN
 FULL  AND  TO  HAVE  ANY  TOLL VIOLATION FEES RELATED TO SUCH PAID TOLLS
 WAIVED FOR A PERIOD OF SIX  MONTHS  FROM  THE  EFFECTIVE  DATE  OF  THIS
 SECTION.
   3.  NOTWITHSTANDING  SUBDIVISION  FIVE  OF SECTION FIVE HUNDRED FIFTY-
 THREE OF THIS TITLE OR ANY OTHER LAW, ANY CASHLESS  TOLL  VIOLATION  FEE
 CHARGED TO ANY PERSON, FIRM, CORPORATION, OR OTHER ENTITY FOR THE USE OF
 ANY  BRIDGE  OR  TUNNEL OPERATED BY THE AUTHORITY SHALL NOT EXCEED TWICE
 THE AMOUNT OF THE TOLL CHARGED FOR USING SUCH BRIDGE  OR  TUNNEL  FOR  A
 PERIOD  OF NINETY DAYS FROM THE EFFECTIVE DATE OF THIS SECTION AND SHALL
 NOT EXCEED THREE TIMES THE AMOUNT OF THE TOLL  CHARGED  FOR  USING  SUCH
 
  EXPLANATION--Matter in ITALICS (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
                       [ ] is old law to be omitted.

                                                            LBD07961-01-1

 S. 3431                             2
 
 BRIDGE  OR  TUNNEL  FOR  AN  ADDITIONAL  NINETY DAY PERIOD FOLLOWING THE
 INITIAL NINETY DAY PERIOD.
   § 2. Section 1266 of the public authorities law is amended by adding a
 new subdivision 3-b to read as follows:
   3-B.  THE  AUTHORITY  SHALL CONSPICUOUSLY POST ON ITS WEBSITE THE MOST
 CURRENT VERSION OF ITS FEE WAIVER POLICY.
   § 3. This act shall take effect immediately; provided,  however,  that
 the  provisions  of  section  one of this act shall expire and be deemed
 repealed one hundred eighty days after the effective date of  this  act.
 Any  rights  or  remedies  granted to an individual pursuant to this act
 prior to the expiration and repeal of section one of this act shall  not
 be affected by such expiration.

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Senate Bill S3431

Sponsored By

Archive: Last Bill Status - In Senate Committee Transportation Committee

co-Sponsors

2021-S3431 (ACTIVE) - Details

2021-S3431 (ACTIVE) - Summary

2021-S3431 (ACTIVE) - Sponsor Memo

2021-S3431 (ACTIVE) - Bill Text download pdf

Comments

Senate Bill S3431

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Sponsored By

Archive: Last Bill Status - In Senate Committee Transportation Committee

co-Sponsors

2021-S3431 (ACTIVE) - Details

2021-S3431 (ACTIVE) - Summary

2021-S3431 (ACTIVE) - Sponsor Memo

2021-S3431 (ACTIVE) - Bill Text download pdf

Comments