October 25, 2016
The Pennsylvania Turnpike Commission (PTC) released Tuesday a list of 24 companies that owe more than $20,000 in unpaid tolls.
Those businesses – mostly trucking firms – owe a total of $1,537,778.57 for 19,134 violations. Of the top violators, 10 are from New Jersey and eight are from Pennsylvania.
PTC Chairman Sean Logan noted that one New Jersey company is responsible for more than a third of those delinquent payments.
Green Coast Logistics of South Plainfield, New Jersey tops the list. The company owes $678,483.91 for 7,631 violations.
Only two other companies owe more than $75,000: Natural Stone Wholesalers of Williamstown and U-Haul Company of Arizona of Phoenix.
The most egregious violator from Pennsylvania is Cheaper By The Dozen of Levittown, which owes $56,378.35 for 494 outstanding notices.
“We are doing all we can to collect every penny, but it is simply not enough,” Logan said. “Without support from state lawmakers for tougher consequences, a growing number of violators from every state will continue to cheat both the Turnpike Commission and the commonwealth as a whole.”
Last month, a state audit revealed that the PTC is was on "potentially unstable financial ground" that could lead to "transportation disaster." The situation was partly blamed on the commission's inability to collect unpaid tolls.
The PTC has pushed state lawmakers to pass a bill that would prevent motorists with unpaid violations from renewing their vehicle registrations.
“We aggressively pursue all violators and we have a strong and successful track record. But last year, we lost $5.4 million in uncollected revenues,” Logan said. “Each year, the number of violators and the revenue loss continues to climb as traffic and use of E-ZPass grows.”
The PTC also released state-by-state data on toll violators. Pennsylvania drivers account for nearly 57 percent of unpaid tolls, totaling $27,959,799. The rest – $21,196,137 – is owed by drivers from the other 49 states, Washington D.C. and Quebec, Canada.
To check out the full list, click here.
