Senate Bill S2245

                                 
BILL NUMBER: S2245

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:

2024: S1258 Comrie/ A9397 Hyndman S3431

2022 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.