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The Oct. 15 operation was a collaboration between the Port Authority of NY/NJ Police, NYPD, and New York State Police, and more, which also netted six arrests. This was the first crackdown at Outerbridge Crossing, following previous operations at other regional crossings.
Drivers who received summonses owed a total of $445,909 in unpaid tolls and fees. Vehicles were impounded for a variety of violations, including lack of registration and suspended licenses, the PAPD said.
Over the first six months, Port Authority issued over 4,800 summonses to motorists owing more than $4.2 million in tolls and fees.
“Over just a few hours, officers issued hundreds of summonses and made six arrests, proving that individuals who have a clear disregard for following the rules are no match for our powerful law enforcement partnership,” said Port Authority Executive Director Rick Cotton. “Through this collaboration, we are comprehensively and systematically addressing the issue of toll evasion and illegal vehicles on our roadways.”
“After conducting nearly 50 enforcement operations this year, our interagency ghost vehicle task force remains committed to holding motorists accountable,” Interim NYPD Commissioner Thomas G. Donlon said.
The interagency operation included Port Authority Police, NYPD, New York State Police, New York City Sheriff’s Office, MTA Bridge and Tunnel Officers, MTA Police, New York State Department of Motor Vehicles and Taxi and Limousine Commission Police.
The Port Authority is focused on seeking out egregious repeat offenders who often owe totals in the hundreds of thousands of dollars. Toll evaders who repeatedly do not pay their bills on time may be subject to having their vehicles’ registrations suspended and their vehicles towed and impounded by PAPD at the owners’ expense. Repeat offenders also may be subject to civil litigation for toll recovery.
Motorists can avoid administrative fees and vehicle registration suspensions for unpaid toll violations by paying their toll bills on time or by signing up for E-ZPass. With an E-ZPass account, customers can link a credit card or bank account to make the tolling process as seamless as possible and save as much as 20 percent on tolls at the agency’s crossings.
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