S T A T E O F N E W Y O R K
________________________________________________________________________
9511
I N S E N A T E
March 18, 2026
___________
Introduced by Sen. COMRIE -- read twice and ordered printed, and when
printed to be committed to the Committee on Corporations, Authorities
and Commissions
AN ACT to amend the public authorities law, in relation to limiting
certain fees and fines for tolls charged by a public authority
THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK, REPRESENTED IN SENATE AND ASSEM-
BLY, DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS:
Section 1. Section 2855 of the public authorities law, as added by
section 1 of part KK of chapter 59 of the laws of 2006, is amended to
read as follows:
§ 2855. Electronic method of payment; periodic charges. Notwithstand-
ing the provisions of any law to the contrary, if any authority shall
offer any electronic method of payment for tolls, fares, fees, rentals,
or other charges, including but not limited to a system called E-ZPass,
such authority shall not impose any periodic administrative or other
charge for the privilege of using such electronic method of payment for
such charges. Nothing in this section shall be construed to prohibit any
authority from making any charge for extra services requested by a hold-
er of such electronic method of payment, any charge for lost or damaged
equipment, or for defaults, such as charges for dishonored checks. The
authority shall not enter any agreement with bondholders that would
require the imposition of administrative or other periodic charges
relating to electronic methods of payment prohibited by this section. NO
FEE OR ADMINISTRATIVE CHARGE FOR THE TIMELY OR LATE PAYMENT OF A TOLL
BILL FOR AN OBLIGATION TO PAY A TOLL OR TOLLS VALUED AT TWO HUNDRED
DOLLARS OR LESS SHALL EXCEED THE AUTHORITY'S ACTUAL COST TO IMPOSE THE
CHARGE AND PROCESS PAYMENT OF SUCH OBLIGATION. PROVIDED, FURTHER, ANY
AUTHORITY OFFERING SUCH ELECTRONIC PAYMENT METHODS SHALL PUBLISH THEIR
UPDATED FEE WAIVER POLICY IN A PROMINENT LOCATION ON THEIR WEBSITE.
§ 2. Subdivision 5 of section 2985 of the public authorities law, as
added by chapter 379 of the laws of 1992, is amended to read as follows:
EXPLANATION--Matter in ITALICS (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[ ] is old law to be omitted.
LBD14791-03-6
S. 9511 2
5. AN OWNER FOUND LIABLE FOR A VIOLATION OF TOLL COLLECTION REGU-
LATIONS PURSUANT TO THIS SECTION INVOLVING AN OBLIGATION TO PAY A TOLL
OR TOLLS VALUED AT TWO HUNDRED DOLLARS OR LESS SHALL BE LIABLE FOR A
MONETARY PENALTY NOT TO EXCEED TWENTY-FIVE DOLLARS FOR A FIRST VIOLATION
THEREOF; FOR A SECOND VIOLATION THEREOF BOTH WITHIN EIGHTEEN MONTHS BE
LIABLE FOR A MONETARY PENALTY NOT TO EXCEED THE GREATER OF FIFTY DOLLARS
OR TWO TIMES THE TOLL EVADED; FOR A THIRD OR SUBSEQUENT VIOLATION THERE-
OF ALL WITHIN EIGHTEEN MONTHS BE LIABLE FOR A MONETARY PENALTY NOT TO
EXCEED THE GREATER OF SEVENTY-FIVE DOLLARS OR FIVE TIMES THE TOLL
EVADED. An owner found liable for [a] ANY OTHER violation of toll
collection regulations pursuant to this section shall for a first
violation thereof be liable for a monetary penalty not to exceed fifty
dollars or two times the toll evaded whichever is greater; for a second
violation thereof both within eighteen months be liable for a monetary
penalty not to exceed one hundred dollars or five times the toll evaded
whichever is greater; for a third or subsequent violation thereof all
within eighteen months be liable for a monetary penalty not to exceed
one hundred fifty dollars or ten times the toll evaded whichever is
greater.
§ 3. Subdivision 8 of section 2985 of the public authorities law, as
amended by section 6 of subpart A of part WW of chapter 56 of the laws
of 2024, is amended to read as follows:
8. (a) (I) Adjudication of the liability imposed upon owners by this
section shall be by the entity having jurisdiction over violations of
the rules and regulations of the public authority serving the notice of
liability or where authorized by an administrative tribunal and all
violations shall be heard and determined in the county in which the
violation is alleged to have occurred, or in New York city and upon the
consent of both parties, in any county within New York city in which the
public authority operates or maintains a facility, and in the same
manner as charges of other regulatory violations of such public authori-
ty or pursuant to the rules and regulations of such administrative
tribunal as the case may be.
(II) THE OWNER OF THE VEHICLE OR OTHER INDIVIDUAL UPON WHOM LIABILITY
IS IMPOSED MAY DESIGNATE AN AGENT IN WRITING, INCLUDING AN ATTORNEY OR
ELECTED OFFICIAL, TO DISPUTE OR RESOLVE A TOLL INCURRED PURSUANT TO THIS
SECTION OR SECTION TWENTY-NINE HUNDRED EIGHTY-FIVE-A OF THIS ARTICLE
WITH THE RELEVANT TOLLING AUTHORITY'S CUSTOMER SERVICE CENTER AND/OR
TOLL PAYER ADVOCATE OFFICE IDENTIFIED IN SECTION TWENTY-NINE HUNDRED
EIGHTY-FIVE-A OF THIS ARTICLE.
(b) Upon exhaustion of remedies pursuant to this section or section
twenty-nine hundred eighty-five-a of this title, as applicable, the New
York state bridge authority, thruway authority, triborough bridge and
tunnel authority, metropolitan transportation authority, and port
authority of New York and New Jersey, a bi-state agency created by
compact set forth in chapter one hundred fifty-four of the laws of nine-
teen hundred twenty-one, shall have the power to enter judgments for
unpaid liabilities, provided that such unpaid liabilities include the
failure to pay tolls, fees, or other charges or the failure to have such
tolls, fees or other charges dismissed or transferred in response to
three or more notices of violation issued within a five year period
charging the registrant of a motor vehicle with a violation of toll
collection regulations, and to enforce such judgments, without court
proceedings, in the same manner as the enforcement of money judgments in
civil actions in any court of competent jurisdiction or any other place
provided for the entry of civil judgment within the state of New York,
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after a period of notice pursuant to paragraph (c) of this subdivision.
The applicable tolling authority shall not enforce such judgments until
thirty days have elapsed from issuing a notice pursuant to paragraph (c)
of this subdivision. THE APPLICABLE TOLLING AUTHORITY SHALL NOT HAVE THE
POWER TO ENTER OR ENFORCE JUDGMENTS FOR UNPAID LIABILITIES FOR FAILURE
TO PAY TWO HUNDRED DOLLARS OR LESS IN TOLLS INCURRED WITHIN A FIVE-YEAR
PERIOD.
(c) Prior to entering judgments for unpaid liabilities pursuant to
paragraph (b) of this subdivision, the applicable tolling authority
shall notify the person subject to such judgment, by first class mail,
that such person is at risk of entry of a judgment against them if they
fail to pay such unpaid liabilities. The form and content of such notice
shall be prescribed by the applicable tolling authority, and shall
contain a warning to advise the person that failure to pay the applica-
ble unpaid liabilities within a period of not less than thirty days of
such notice will result in the enforcement of a judgment against them,
and shall further contain information about the process to dispute such
liabilities, consistent with this section or section twenty-nine hundred
eighty-five-a of this title, as applicable. ANY PERSON, FIRM, CORPO-
RATION, OR OTHER ENTITY CHARGED WITH A TOLL VIOLATION MAY PAY SUCH TOLLS
IN FULL AND HAVE ANY TOLL VIOLATION FEES RELATED TO SUCH PAID TOLLS
WAIVED FOR A PERIOD OF SIX MONTHS FROM THE EFFECTIVE DATE OF THIS PARA-
GRAPH.
(D) WITH RESPECT TO AN OBLIGATION TO PAY A TOLL OR TOLLS VALUED AT ONE
HUNDRED DOLLARS OR LESS, ANY TOLL VIOLATION FEE CHARGED TO ANY PERSON,
FIRM, CORPORATION, OR OTHER ENTITY FOR THE USE OF A TOLL HIGHWAY, BRIDGE
OR TUNNEL FACILITY OPERATED BY A PUBLIC AUTHORITY SHALL NOT EXCEED TWICE
THE AMOUNT OF THE TOLL CHARGED FOR USING SUCH HIGHWAY, BRIDGE OR TUNNEL
FOR A PERIOD OF NINETY DAYS FROM THE EFFECTIVE DATE OF THIS PARAGRAPH
AND SHALL NOT EXCEED THREE TIMES THE AMOUNT OF THE TOLL CHARGED FOR
USING SUCH HIGHWAY, BRIDGE OR TUNNEL FOR AN ADDITIONAL NINETY-DAY PERIOD
FOLLOWING THE INITIAL NINETY-DAY PERIOD.
§ 4. Subdivisions 3, 4, 11 and 13 of section 2985-a of the public
authorities law, as added by section 2 of subpart B of part WW of chap-
ter 56 of the laws of 2024, are amended to read as follows:
3. In the case of an owner who incurs an obligation to pay a toll for
the first time in six months under the tolls by mail program at a cash-
less tolling facility, a toll bill shall be sent within ten business
days after the end of the initial billing cycle and of each subsequent
billing cycle. In the case of all other owners incurring an obligation
to pay a toll at a cashless tolling facility, a toll bill shall be sent
at the end of the next billing cycle. Toll bills shall be sent to the
owner by first class mail, and may additionally be sent by electronic
means of communication upon the affirmative consent of the owner, by or
on behalf of the public authority which operates such cashless tolling
facility. The owner shall have thirty days from the date of the toll
bill to pay the incurred toll. The toll bill shall include: (i) the
total amount of the incurred tolls due, (ii) the date by which payment
of the incurred tolls is due, (iii) any administrative fees, (iv) the
address for receipt of payment and methods of payment for the toll, (v)
the procedure for contesting any toll and the contact information for
the relevant toll payer advocate office and customer service center AND
PROCEDURE FOR DESIGNATING AN AGENT TO CONTEST ANY TOLL ON THE OWNER'S
BEHALF, (vi) information related to the failure to timely pay or respond
to the notice of liability, in addition to the possibility that a judg-
ment can be entered for repeat unpaid liabilities that could lead to a
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vehicle being towed or immobilized, (vii) a website address or hyperlink
for the owner to access time-stamped photographs or footage of each toll
incurred by electronic means, (viii) information related to the avail-
ability of the toll payer advocate to discuss payment options, and (ix)
other information required by law or by the public authority. Each toll
bill shall identify the date, time, location, license plate number, and
jurisdiction of the license plate for each toll that has been incurred.
Each toll bill shall include an image of the license plate of the vehi-
cle being used or operated on the toll facility. If the owner fails to
pay the initial toll bill, a second toll bill shall be sent in the next
billing cycle, which shall also indicate the overdue toll or tolls and
any administrative or late fees due.
4. In the case of an owner who does not pay a toll incurred under the
tolls by mail program on a cashless facility at the place and time and
in the manner established for collection of such toll in the second toll
bill, a notice of violation shall be sent notifying the owner that the
toll is unpaid and administrative violation fees are being imposed. The
notice of violation shall be sent to the owner by first class mail, and
may additionally be sent by electronic means of communication upon the
affirmative consent of the owner, by or on behalf of the public authori-
ty which operates such cashless tolling facility. The notice of
violation shall include: (i) the total amount of unpaid tolls and admin-
istrative violation fees due, (ii) the date by which payment of the
tolls and administrative violation fees is due, (iii) the address for
receipt of payment and methods of payment for the toll, (iv) the proce-
dure for contesting any toll and the contact information for the rele-
vant toll payer advocate office and customer service center AND PROCE-
DURE FOR DESIGNATING AN AGENT TO CONTEST ANY TOLL ON THE OWNER'S BEHALF,
(v) information related to the failure to timely pay or respond to the
notice of liability, in addition to the possibility that a judgment can
be entered for repeat unpaid liabilities that could lead to a vehicle
being towed or immobilized, (vi) a website address or hyperlink for the
owner to access time-stamped photographs or footage of each toll
incurred by electronic means, (vii) information related to the avail-
ability of the toll payer advocate to discuss payment options, and
(viii) other information required by law or by the public authority.
Each notice of violation shall identify the date, time, location,
license plate number, and jurisdiction of the license plate for each
unpaid toll that has been incurred.
11. Any public authority that operates a cashless tolling facility
shall: (i) maintain a website and toll-free phone number for any person
to receive updated information on any tolls or fees which are outstand-
ing; and (ii) establish procedures for owners to dispute any tolls and
violation fees incurred in connection with toll bills, including a
requirement that written determinations in such disputes shall be issued
within forty-five days of receipt of the owner's declaration of dispute.
Such information shall be prominently displayed on such public authori-
ty's toll bills, notices of violation and website. THE AUTHORITY SHALL
PUBLISH ITS FEE WAIVER POLICY IN A PROMINENT LOCATION ON ITS WEBSITE,
INCLUDING ANY UPDATES TO SUCH POLICY.
13. Every public authority that operates a cashless tolling facility
shall establish an office of such authority's toll payer advocate,
designed to further assist owners who remain unsatisfied after first
attempting resolution in writing of their concern with, and receiving
written determination from, such authority's customer service center.
The office of the toll payer advocate shall also endeavor to identify
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any systemic issues and recommend reasonable improvements regarding the
use of and process involved with the payment of tolls under the tolls by
mail program at cashless tolling facilities to the public authority.
THE OWNER OF THE VEHICLE OR OTHER INDIVIDUAL UPON WHOM LIABILITY IS
IMPOSED MAY DESIGNATE AN AGENT, IN WRITING, INCLUDING AN ATTORNEY OR
ELECTED OFFICIAL, TO DISPUTE OR RESOLVE A TOLL INCURRED PURSUANT TO THIS
SECTION OR SECTION TWENTY-NINE HUNDRED EIGHTY-FIVE OF THIS ARTICLE WITH
THE RELEVANT TOLLING AUTHORITY'S CUSTOMER SERVICE CENTER AND TOLL PAYER
ADVOCATE OFFICE.
§ 5. No later than 270 days after the effective date of this act,
every public authority that operates a cashless tolling facility pursu-
ant to article 9 of the public authorities law or central business
district tolling program pursuant to article 44-C of the vehicle and
traffic law shall report to the governor, temporary president of the
senate, speaker of the assembly, and chairs of the corporations and
public authorities committees in the senate and assembly on the follow-
ing: (1) the total number of toll bills issued involving license plates
which were disputed by the owner as not having used such tolling asset
or been present at the time the toll was incurred or having lawfully
surrendered the license plates to which the toll bill was issued; (2)
the total number of toll bills issued to owners where a tolling system
incorrectly billed an owner for tolls incurred by a distinctive license
plate or government use motor vehicle; (3) a summary of how such toll
bill disputes were resolved; (4) an explanation of steps taken to
prevent similar future issues; and (5) any remedial steps or compen-
sation provided to owners.
§ 6. This act shall take effect immediately. Effective immediately,
the addition, amendment and/or repeal of any rule or regulation neces-
sary for the implementation of this act on its effective date are
authorized to be made on or before such date. With respect to the Port
Authority of New York and New Jersey, this act shall take effect upon
the enactment into law by the state of New Jersey of legislation having
an identical effect with this act upon the Port Authority of New York
and New Jersey; but if the state of New Jersey shall have already
enacted such legislation, this act shall take effect immediately;
provided, that the chair of the port authority shall notify the legisla-
tive bill drafting commission upon the occurrence of the enactment of
the legislation provided for in section two of this act in order that
the commission may maintain an accurate and timely effective data base
of the official text of the laws of the state of New York in furtherance
of effectuating the provisions of section 44 of the legislative law and
section 70-b of the public officers law. Provided, however, that
section four of this act shall take effect on the same date and in the
same manner as subpart B of part WW of chapter 56 of the laws of 2024.
