N.J. officials go after $1 million in unpaid tolls

New Jersey officials are making another attempt to crack down on scofflaws who zip through E-ZPass lanes without paying the tolls.

 

Letters have gone out to 147 individuals and companies owing at least $200 in Atlantic City Expressway tolls. They have until Feb. 7 to make arrangements to pay or their vehicle registrations will be suspended.

New Jersey Turnpike Authority spokesman Tom Feeney says a similar program resulted in the collection of more than $250,000 from toll scofflaws on the New Jersey Turnpike and the Garden State Parkway.

“Either when they go to renew their registration or when they come into contact with police in some way and it’s discovered that they have a suspended registration, then they’re inspired to come forward and see what they can do about making their payments,” Feeney.

Including fees, the toll evaders on the Atlantic City Expressway owe more than $1 million. Officials are hoping the threat of having their registration suspended will get some of them to pay their debt.

“We think it’s going to matter to a certain percentage of them, and those people have to come in and set appointments up to try to resolve their issue,” says Kevin Rehmann, spokesman for the South Jersey Transportation Authority. “So we’re very hopeful we will get a percentage of them who really do want to do the right thing.”

Most of the toll cheats are individuals, Rehmann said.