Toll Violation Fee: What It Is and When It Hits

A toll violation fee is the penalty a tolling agency adds when a Toll Bill isn't paid in time. At MTA bridges and tunnels it is $50 for each unpaid toll once the bill is 60 days past its initial bill date. It comes after a smaller $5 late charge at 30 days. It is not a TLC fine, but unpaid violations can lead to a registration suspension, which can stop a TLC vehicle from working.

When it is added at MTA crossings

Sources: MTA toll violation fees and MTA how to pay tolls.

The fee is per toll, not per bill. A bill that lists several crossings can turn into several $50 fees. That is why an unpaid bill grows much faster than the tolls on it.

Other agencies

• Thruway: a second bill adds a $5 late fee; if the second bill is unpaid it becomes a violation with a $50 fee per violation notice; a violation unpaid for 30 days "may be referred to a collection agency." The Thruway notes each tolling authority sets its own fee policy (Thruway).
• Port Authority: unpaid violations may go to collection agencies, and "significant unpaid violations" may be pursued through civil action. There is "no automatic fee dismissal program" at its crossings (Port Authority).
• DMV: a registration can be suspended for 3 or more toll violations within 5 years, and driving with a suspended registration is a misdemeanor (DMV).

Why it matters to TLC drivers

The bill goes to the registered owner. If you own your TLC vehicle, that's you. If you lease or rent, it's the owner or fleet, who may pass the cost to you. A suspended registration can keep the vehicle off the road. The full order of events, agency by agency: toll bill late-fee timeline. What to do about a suspension: unpaid tolls and registration suspension.

Where you will see this term

On Toll Bills and violation notices, on MTA and Thruway web pages, and in calls from collection agencies about Port Authority tolls.

Common mix-ups

• Late charge vs violation fee. At MTA, $5 at 30 days; $50 per toll at 60 days.
• Violation fee vs Mid-Tier. Mid-Tier is a higher toll rate on your account, not a penalty.
• Violation fee vs TLC summons. TLC E-ZPass summonses, like rule 80-15(d), go to an OATH hearing. Toll violation fees are billed by the tolling agency.
• Violation fee vs airport access fee. The airport fee is a normal trip charge at the airports.
• Ignoring vs disputing. If the bill is wrong, dispute it in writing; see how to dispute a toll bill. If customer service can't fix it, a Toll Payer Advocate can look into it. The vehicle class on the bill is worth checking too.

More: Tolls by Mail, tolls hub.