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Bill

S 9503

Enacts the "End the Toll Trap: Real Relief for Drivers Act"

2025 Regular Session Introduced by Cordell Cleare and 3 co-sponsors

Aims to cut toll burdens by capping non-toll fees unless three violations occur, improve notices, and create a bi-state task force to reduce costs and study toll reforms.

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Bill Summary · S 9503

Summary of Bill S. 9503 (2025-2026 Session) – End the Toll Trap: Real Relief for Drivers Act

Purpose and Intent

  • Establishes a framework to reduce toll-related burdens on drivers, particularly for those who incur toll violations unintentionally or due to system issues (e.g., E-ZPass malfunctions, billing errors).
  • Shifts administrative costs for toll violation processing away from occasional drivers and toward repeat offenders, with costs tied to actual processing and collection expenses.
  • Promotes coordination with New Jersey to identify efficiencies and reduce fees at bi-state crossings.

Key Provisions

A. Toll Violation Fees and Notice Requirements

  • Electronic toll collection systems must provide timely delinquency notices to account holders.
  • An account holder is not deemed liable for a violation unless the authority has first sent a delinquency notice and the account holder was actually delinquent.
  • A new restriction: no fee, charge, or assessment related to a notice of violation (beyond the underlying toll) may be charged unless the owner has committed three or more toll violations within a 90-day period.

B. Fees for Repeat Violations

  • If a motorist commits three or more toll violations within a 90-day period, authorities may impose additional fees or assessments beyond the toll itself.
  • These additional charges must be based on the actual cost of processing and collecting all toll violations in the prior calendar year divided by the number of motorists who committed three or more violations in the prior year.

C. Reporting by Toll Authorities

  • Public authorities that collect tolls must submit annual reports to the Legislature, including:
    • Number of toll collection monitoring system violations.
    • Frequency of toll violations per individual.
    • Total revenue collected from repeat violators.
    • Five-year trend comparisons of toll violations and per-motorist violation frequency.
    • Explanation of administrative costs associated with processing tolls and toll violations.
  • The first annual report is due one year after the effective date of this subdivision.

D. New York and New Jersey Toll and Fees Reduction Task Force

  • Establishes the New York and New Jersey Toll and Fees Reduction Task Force (12 members: 6 from New York, 6 from New Jersey).
  • Appointment structure mirrors New York leadership appointments; members must have expertise in transportation, tolling, traffic engineering, procurement, IT, public finance, or data analysis.
  • Co-chairs: one appointed by each state, elected by their state’s appointees.
  • Schedule: initial meeting no later than six months after all appointments; then monthly meetings. A quorum requires three members from each state; final report requires at least seven affirmative votes.
  • Compensation: members do not receive pay but are reimbursed for actual expenses.

E. Task Force Duties and Deliverables

  • Identify inefficiencies and potential cost reductions in tolling processes.
  • Consider an amnesty program for tolls in New York or New Jersey.
  • Assess the impact of congestion pricing on motorists.
  • Develop strategies to shift the cost burden away from occasional/inadvertent violators toward repeat offenders.

F. Administrative Provisions

  • Task force may form advisory committees and may request studies from state or bi-state agencies, with confidentiality provisions for information obtained.
  • Final task force report due within two years of its first meeting, to be delivered to the governor and legislatures of both states, including any proposed legislation.

Effective Date and Conditions

  • Act takes effect immediately, but certain sections (notably those creating the task force and toll/fees reduction provisions) take effect only upon enactment by New Jersey of identical legislation. If New Jersey has already enacted similar legislation, sections 4 and 6 take effect immediately (subject to cross-state coordination as described).

Who Is Affected

  • Drivers subject to electronic toll collection across New York facilities and bi-state crossings with New Jersey.
  • Public authorities that operate toll facilities in New York (and potentially bi-state authorities coordinating with New Jersey).
  • State and local agencies involved in toll collection, enforcement, and finance.

Summary

S. 9503 seeks to reduce the financial burden of toll violations on drivers, especially those who are not repeat offenders, by reforming delinquency notices, capping non-toll fees absent repeat violations, and increasing transparency through annual reporting. It creates a bi-state task force to study and propose cost-reduction measures, potential amnesty options, and the broader policy impacts of tolling and congestion pricing. The measure relies on New Jersey’s parallel enactment to activate certain provisions.

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

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