Requires the triborough bridge authority to establish a cashless tolling amnesty program; requires the metropolitan transportation authority to post their fee waiver policy on their website.
NEW YORK STATE ASSEMBLY MEMORANDUM IN SUPPORT OF LEGISLATION submitted in accordance with Assembly Rule III, Sec 1(f)
BILL NUMBER: A9397
SPONSOR: Hyndman TITLE OF BILL:
An act to amend the public authorities law, in relation to requiring the
triborough bridge authority to establish a cashless tolling amnesty
program and requiring the metropolitan transportation authority to post
their fee waiver policy on their website; and providing for the repeal
of certain provisions upon expiration thereof
PURPOSE:
To provide sensible, rational, consumer-friendly relief and reform to
the MTA's Cashless Tolling System by (1) Enacting toll amnesty for a
period of six months; (2) Providing for public disclosure of the current
MTA Fee Waiver Policy; and (3) Capping fees for toll charges at no more
than twice the original toll charge for the first three months and no
more than three times the original toll charge for fees in the four to
six month range.
SUMMARY OF PROVISIONS:
Section 1 amends the Public Authorities Law (Subsection 553-j) to
provide for a six-month amnesty program concerning all fees assessed on
MTA Bridges and Tunnels since the inception of the Cashless Tolling
program. In addition, Section 1 provides for a capping of fees, as
follows: For the first 90 days after the original toll charge, fees
shall not be more than double the original charge; from days 91-180 fees
shall not be more than triple the original toll charge.
Section 2 requires the MTA to conspicuously post their Fee Waiver Policy
on their website.
Section 3 provides that this act shall take effect immediately and
provides for the repeal of the amnesty provisions in Section 1 after 180
days.
JUSTIFICATION:
Cashless Tolling-which exists on all MTA Bridges and Tunnels-is merito-
rious to the extent it is designed to ease traffic flow and make-payment
of tolls more convenient for motorists; however, implementation of the
program has revealed a number of glaring challenges that require our
collective attention and planning for remediation.
Many residents in New York City and across the State are receiving exor-
bitant bills from the MTA for toll charges that are defined as overdue
and carry $100 fees per original charge. After less than 3 months past
due, residents are receiving fines as high as $100.00 for a toll as
small as $8.50. It is not uncommon for drivers to receive bills for a
handful of trips that have now multiplied into thousands of dollars in
fiduciary obligations. While it is no doubt important, that the MTA
discourage late payment of toll obligations, and collect toll revenue to
keep the system operating efficiently, the current system features fees
that are extraordinarily excessive; a fee waiver policy that is
-unavailable for the public to understand and other features that are
simply not pro-consumer.
This legislation will: (1) Enact toll amnesty for a period of six
months; (2) Provide for public disclosure of the current MTA Fee Waiver
Policy; and (3) Cap fees for toll charges at no more than twice the
original toll charge for the first three months and no more than three
times the original.toll charge for fees in the four to six month range.
LEGISLATIVE HISTORY:
S3431 2022
S 7823 COMRIE Same as A10005 Pheffer Amato
FISCAL IMPLICATIONS:
To be determined.
EFFECTIVE DATE:
This law will take effect immediately; the toll amnesty program will
repeal after 180 days, with the rights and remedies granted by the act
before expiration to remain unaffected by such expiration.
STATE OF NEW YORK
________________________________________________________________________
9397
IN ASSEMBLY
March 6, 2024
___________
Introduced by M. of A. HYNDMAN -- read once and referred to the Commit-
tee on Corporations, Authorities and Commissions
AN ACT to amend the public authorities law, in relation to requiring the
triborough bridge authority to establish a cashless tolling amnesty
program and requiring the metropolitan transportation authority to
post their fee waiver policy on their website; and providing for the
repeal of certain provisions upon expiration thereof
The People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and Assem-bly, do enact as follows:
1 Section 1. The public authorities law is amended by adding a new
2 section 553-l to read as follows:
3 § 553-l. Cashless tolling amnesty program. 1. Notwithstanding subdivi-
4 sion five of section five hundred fifty-three of this title or any other
5 law, the authority shall provide an amnesty program for any person,
6 firm, corporation, or other entity charged with the payment of a cash-
7 less toll fee for the use of any bridge or tunnel operated by the
8 authority.
9 2. Such amnesty program shall allow any person, firm, corporation, or
10 other entity charged with the payment of a cashless toll fee for the use
11 of any bridge or tunnel operated by the authority to pay such tolls in
12 full and to have any toll violation fees related to such paid tolls
13 waived for a period of six months from the effective date of this
14 section.
15 3. Notwithstanding subdivision five of section five hundred fifty-
16 three of this title or any other law, any cashless toll violation fee
17 charged to any person, firm, corporation, or other entity for the use of
18 any bridge or tunnel operated by the authority shall not exceed twice
19 the amount of the toll charged for using such bridge or tunnel for a
20 period of ninety days from the effective date of this section and shall
21 not exceed three times the amount of the toll charged for using such
22 bridge or tunnel for an additional ninety day period following the
23 initial ninety day period.
24 § 2. Section 1266 of the public authorities law is amended by adding a
25 new subdivision 3-b to read as follows:
EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[] is old law to be omitted.
LBD03399-01-3
A. 9397 2
1 3-b. The authority shall conspicuously post on its website the most
2 current version of its fee waiver policy.
3 § 3. This act shall take effect immediately; provided, however, that
4 the provisions of section one of this act shall expire and be deemed
5 repealed one hundred eighty days after the effective date of this act.
6 Any rights or remedies granted to an individual pursuant to this act
7 prior to the expiration and repeal of section one of this act shall not
8 be affected by such expiration.
