This week the Chicago Daily Herald ran a three-part series called "Toll Gridlock" that reported on the problems with the Illinois State Toll Highway Authority's collection system. The series found that the toll authority is often "sending violation notices to the wrong addresses, leaving some drivers to miss out on chances to pay up before fines skyrocket or their driver's licenses are suspended."
In one case, a driver didn't know her I-PASS (electronic toll payment transponder) ran out of money and accumulated $179.50 in owed tolls. She was sent a letter saying she now owes $4,619, and had better pay up in two weeks, or owe the tollway $15,739 and eventually lose her driver's license.
The series also notes that "tollway officials say their license plate image readers have trouble discerning differences among the myriad of plate varieties, affecting about 25 percent of all plates on the road. This may result in fines being leveled against law-abiding motorists."
In addition, the series states that the toll authority doesn't know how many are cheating or how many motorists are being fined unfairly.
Finally, the series notes that the toll authority's management thinks all of the problems are minor, and that the way fines are assessed is "fair."
Glad I don't drive in Illinois.
Comments (2)
I too had this problem. Owed over 1400 for 67 missed tolls. Heres what i did....I got this advice from the person I talked to, when i called to pay the fine. first, have someone with a current I-Pass call in and add you to there account. what for the E-Mail stating that you have been added. once you got that, have the same person that added you to there account call and pay your bill. Beings they have an account you don't get charged the fines, just the missed toll amounts. I saved over 1200 by doing this. I hope that it will be of use to everyone else!!!
Posted by phil | January 24, 2008 9:18 AM
Posted on January 24, 2008 09:18
I have just received a fine notice fro the Illinois Toll Way system (I live in New York State) that clearly shows my license plate and states that I have 3 violations equaling a total of 62.62. The problem is that even tough I was on the road at these times and did go through these toll booths, I am certain that I did pay the toll and therefore believe that the pictures were taken in error. Because it took 6 months for the toll violation notice to be sent to me, I do not have a clear recollection of what occurred (e.g., did I put I the money and the light simply did not turn green?). However, I do know that I would never deliberately skip paying a toll. I make a good salary and this would never be necessary and I always have a compartment filled with plenty of loose change. Any advice on what I can do about this situation. I feel as if I am being scammed and do not want to just pay.
Posted by Ray | June 22, 2008 5:00 PM
Posted on June 22, 2008 17:00