MTA Police Stop 20 Toll-Evaders and Seize their Vehicles on Verrazzano-Narrows Bridge

By Yehudit Garmaise

Bridge and Tunnel police stopped and seized the cars of 20 drivers who had repeatedly failed to pay their tolls on the Verrazzano-Narrows Bridge on Monday, the Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) announced today.

Bridge and Tunnel Officers’ squad cars identified the scofflaws by using license plate readers that identify drivers whose registrations are suspended due to unpaid tolls: a practice that has helped police to recover more than 90% of the tolls owed by repeat offenders. 

“Officers have proven time and time again: motorists who try to evade paying their tolls will get caught,” said Interim MTA Bridges and Tunnel President Catherine Sheridan about Monday’s six-hour crackdown on toll-evaders.

Repeated toll-violators’ unpaid tolls and fees, which on March 20 totaled $600,000, will “go a long way towards securing toll revenue,” whose surplus funds mass transit, Sheridan said.

In 2022, MTA Bridges and Tunnel police seized the cars of 1,800 drivers who repeatedly did not pay their tolls, and since the start of Open Road Tolling, Bridge and Tunnel officers have seized the cars of more than 7,800 toll-evaders.

“Bridge and Tunnel officers have all the tools to find persistent toll violators: no matter how many tricks they try,” said MTA Bridges and Tunnels Vice President & Chief of Operations Richard L. Hildebrand II. 

Motorists can avoid violation fees and registration suspensions by paying their toll bills on time, using the award-winning Tolls NY free mobile application to pay tolls or by managing their E-ZPass accounts. 

E-ZPass NY Customer Service Center account holders can save up to 40% at MTA tolled crossings by using E-ZPass. To set up an E-ZPass account or for more information, visit: www.ezpassny.com.