Politics & Government

Maryland Driver Has $13,000 in Unpaid Toll Fees Erased

A man who neglected to pay highway tolls tallied a steep fine that state officials agreed this week to waive.

A Maryland man should be thankful this week for a change in state law that will prevent other drivers like him from accumulating thousands of dollars in penalties for unpaid toll fees.

According to the Baltimore Sun, Eric Gregory of Glen Burnie tallied $720 in unpaid E-ZPass tolls and late charges, plus $13,000 in administrative fees over a two-year period.

Drivers who don't pay E-ZPass tolls in time face late charges and administrative fees. Gregory told the Sun the state also garnished about $4,600 from his state income tax refunds.

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Earlier this year, the General Assembly gave a break to the estimated 650,000 vehicle owners who owed the state $6.7 million in unpaid tolls dating back five years, the Sun said.

After The Washington Post pointed this out, legislators voted to give the MdTA power to swiftly issue civil citations and suspend the registrations of drivers who ignore their bills.

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The new law allows the MdTA to "video toll" any vehicle and send the bill to the registered owner. If the bill isn't paid within 30 days, the agency issues a civil citation and a $50 fine for each violation, the Sun reported. A suspension of the vehicle's registration is also allowed.

After being contacted by the Sun, the state notified Gregory it will wipe out the $13,000 in fees he was charged.


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