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HB 8586

AN ACT RELATING TO HIGHWAYS -- RHODE ISLAND TURNPIKE AND BRIDGE AUTHORITY

2026 Regular Session Introduced by Doc Corvese and 3 co-sponsors

HB 8586 strengthens toll collection by imposing clear payment timelines, escalating fees, and enforcement, while allowing rental-car companies to avoid liability for lessee tolls w

06/26/2026 Effective without Governor's signature
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WeVote Research Nonpartisan
Bill Summary · HB 8586

Overview

  • Bill: HB 8586
  • Session: 2026, Rhode Island
  • Jurisdiction: Rhode Island Turnpike and Bridge Authority
  • Introduced: May 27, 2026
  • Purpose: To adjust penalties for toll violators and toll evaders and to grant rental car companies a clarified non-liability framework for toll violations, with associated administrative processes.

Main purpose and intent

  • Strengthen collection of tolls on tolled projects administered by the Rhode Island Turnpike and Bridge Authority (RITBA).
  • Create and formalize penalties, fees, and enforcement mechanisms for toll violators and toll evaders.
  • Establish a mechanism for rental car companies to avoid liability for toll violations by providing lessee information as prima facie evidence of operator status.

Key provisions and changes

  1. Penalties and fees for toll violators

    • Toll violators must pay the toll amount within 14 days of violation issuance.
    • If unpaid within 14 days, a $40 administrative fee is added.
    • If unpaid continues beyond 45 days, an additional $35 administrative fee is added, along with the unpaid toll and the $40 fee (totaling further penalties).
    • All tolls and fees are payable to the authority.
    • Toll evaders (those who deliberately circumvent gates or fail to pay after multiple notices) may face a traffic tribunal summons, potential license suspension for up to 6 months, and fines up to $500, or both.
    • If unpaid tolls, fees, and fines remain unpaid for 90 days and the violator has at least 10 nonpayment instances, the authority may report the person to the Rhode Island Division of Motor Vehicles (DMV) to block license and vehicle registration renewals until payments/repayments are made. DMV would release holds upon payment or satisfactory repayment arrangements; if arrangements are broken, DMV may re-impose holds.
    • Notably, this provision excludes rental vehicles under certain conditions (see rental-company provisions below).

  2. Definitions and administrative framework

    • “Toll violator” = a person who uses a tolled project and fails to pay/prepay.
    • “Toll evader” = a toll violator who (a) deliberately circumvents barriers or (b) has 20+ nonpayment incidents and has not complied with a repayment plan.
    • The authority may promulgate rules; there is an internal appeal process for disputed administrative fees.

  3. Rental car company provisions

    • Rental companies may establish non-liability for toll violations, administrative fees, and fines by providing the traffic tribunal with a written rental/lease agreement, which serves as prima facie evidence that the lessee/operator was using the vehicle.
    • The issuing authority must provide the rental vehicle owner with a toll-violation notice containing vehicle license details, date/time, etc.
    • Upon receiving such a notice, the rental vehicle owner must provide the operator’s name and contact information (where available) within 20 days.
    • The renter/lessee is not considered an agent of the owner if the owner’s business is renting/leasing vehicles.

  4. Retroactivity and savings

    • The bill includes retroactive applicability to toll evaders as of October 1, 2016, but states that it does not reduce or eliminate any tolls, fines, or penalties for violations occurring before the effective date.

  5. Effective date

    • Effective upon passage.

Who would be affected

  • Toll violators and toll evaders on Rhode Island tolled projects (vehicles, drivers, lessees, and renters, including EZPass or other account holders).
  • Rental car companies (as registered owners of rental vehicles) and their customers (lessees/renters), who can use the new non-liability framework when providing the rental agreement to the traffic tribunal.
  • Rhode Island DMV (for license and registration holds related to unpaid tolls, fees, and fines).
  • Rhode Island traffic tribunal (as a venue for toll evader cases and for reviewing certain administrative-fee disputes).

Procedural and timeline aspects

  • Payment deadlines: 14 days to pay tolls; 14-day window triggers $40 fee; 45-day window can incur additional $35 fee plus tolls.
  • Escalation: 90 days of nonpayment with at least 10 nonpayment instances can trigger DMV holds on license and registration; holds released upon payment or repayment agreement.
  • Enforcement: Potential suspension of driving privileges and fines up to $500 for toll evaders; notices and enforcement coordinated by the authority and, when relevant, the DMV and traffic tribunal.
  • Administrative review: The authority may set rules; disputed administrative-fee assessments may be reviewed through a process established by the authority (not via the state’s chapter 35/42 process).

Summary

HB 8586 tightens toll-collection enforcement on Rhode Island tolled facilities, introducing structured timelines, escalating administrative fees, and DMV- and tribunal-based enforcement for nonpayment and evasion. It also creates a clear framework for rental-car companies to avoid liability for lessee tolls by presenting lease agreements as evidence of operator status, while requiring notice to vehicle owners and information sharing to facilitate enforcement. The act takes effect upon passage and includes retroactive applicability to toll evaders as of October 1, 2016, with protections regarding violations prior to the effective date.

Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.

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