Senator Carlucci's Toll Payer Protection Act Headed to the Governor's Desk

**Toll Payer Protection Act Headed to the Governor's Desk**

Albany, NY - Senator David Carlucci (D-Rockland/Westchester) and Assemblyman Tom Abinanti's (D-Greenburgh/Mt. Pleasant) amended version of the Toll Payer Protection Act passed in the Senate late on Wednesday night.

Now the legislation aimed at protecting drivers and improving cashless tolling is headed to the Governor's desk. 

The bill previously passed in the Assembly last week. 

“The Toll Payer Protection Act is about providing drivers in our state with a fair and efficient billing system that offers a greater level of transparency. No one should be driven into debt over a toll bill due to a poorly implemented system," said Senator David Carlucci.

“New York’s cashless tolling system has been chaotic – with unconscionable penalties, unwarranted registration suspensions and insufficient response to consumers," said Assemblyman Tom Abinanti. “The current system wrongfully assumes that all people who have not timely paid their tolls are scofflaws.”

Both Carlucci and Abinanti’s offices have received hundreds of complaints from people who went over the Tappan Zee and claimed they never received their toll bills in the mail or received them long after they went through the toll. 

Some also said by the time they realized they had an outstanding bill, it had already gone to collections and incurred late fees.

The Toll Payer Protection Act will solve this problem ensuring drivers receive their bills by mail within 30 days.  

The legislation will also require that tolling authorities set up a website where people can pay toll bills online, and consumers will be able to sign up for text or email alerts when they receive a toll fee. 

In some cases, people had their vehicle registration suspended due to outstanding toll bills.

The Toll Payer Protection Act prohibits registration suspensions for unpaid tolls and requires drivers be notified at least 30 days in advance if they face a registration suspension.  

Additionally, consumers will have the right to dispute fees and can set up a payment plan for outstanding bills. 

The Governor has until Dec. 31, 2018 to sign the legislation into law or veto it.

If signed into law, it will take effect within 120 days.