Senate Bill S9178A

                                 
BILL NUMBER: S9178A

SPONSOR: SCARCELLA-SPANTON
 
TITLE OF BILL:

An act to amend the public authorities law, in relation to requiring
notices of liability issued for nonpayment of tolls to be uniform in
form and content and contain specific information

 
PURPOSE OR GENERAL IDEA OF BILL:

To ensure that motorists receive clear, uniform, and transparent notices
of liability for toll violations, including disclosure of applicable
penalties, rates, and fees, and to require tolling authorities to
provide notice when electronic toll accounts or automatic payment meth-
ods have been disconnected or terminated.

 
SUMMARY OF PROVISIONS:

Section 1 amends subdivision seven of section 2985 of the public author-
ities law by adding a new paragraph (e) to require that notices of
liability for toll violations be uniform in form and content across all
              

authorized public authorities, clearly disclose applicable monetary
penalties and any rates, fees, or charges for nonpayment of tolls, iden-
tify the public authority imposing such penalties, and require written
notice to account holders when an electronic toll account or automatic
payment method has been disconnected or terminated.

This section also establishes that all surcharges, fees, or penalties
imposed by a public authority are invalid if the public authority fails
to comply with the requirement to provide notices.

Section 2 provides the effective date.

 
JUSTIFICATION:

Toll enforcement in New York is conducted by multiple public authori-
ties, each of which may issue notices of liability with differing
formats, terminology, and levels of detail. As a result, motorists may
receive notices that are confusing, inconsistent, or unclear as to the
penalties being imposed, the authority imposing them, or the conse-
quences of nonpayment.

This lack of uniformity can lead to misunderstanding, delayed payment,
and the accrual of significant penalties and fees, particularly where
motorists are unaware that an electronic toll account or automatic
payment method has been disconnected or terminated. In many cases, indi-
viduals do not learn of such account issues until after receiving a
notice of liability that includes substantial additional charges.

This bill promotes transparency by requiring standardized notices that
clearly and conspicuously disclose all applicable penalties, rates, and
fees, and by ensuring that motorists are notified when their toll
accounts or payment methods are no longer active. These reforms will
help motorists better understand their obligations, reduce unnecessary
disputes, and improve confidence in the toll enforcement system.

 
PRIOR LEGISLATIVE HISTORY:

New bill.

 
FISCAL IMPLICATIONS FOR STATE AND LOCAL GOVERNMENTS:

To be determined.

 
EFFECTIVE DATE:
This act shall take effect on the one hundred twentieth day after it
shall have become a law.