The New York State Thruway Authority has intensified its clampdown on defaulting drivers, amassing $4.5 million since reviving its registration suspension initiative last summer.
This surge marks a nearly $2 million increase from May’s figures, with approximately 4,000 accounts, or around 100 weekly, referred to the state’s Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) for suspension.
The DMV has suspended 1,640 of these registrations, a figure that surpasses April’s total of 716. The majority of these delinquent accounts belong to drivers who accumulated three unpaid violations within five years or owe considerable sums.
The crackdown traces back to the Thruway Authority’s ill-fated introduction of a cashless tolling system in 2016. While the system went on hold in 2018 due to glitches, unpaid tolls and fines during this period amounted to $64 million.
To streamline the payment process and stave off registration suspensions, fines were slashed from $100 to $50 each billing cycle. Moreover, the authority has actively promoted E-ZPass, which now makes up nearly 90% of all Thruway transactions, offering users significant toll discounts.
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