Massive revenue loss due to drivers using tactics to avoid Thruway Authority tolls

The New York State Thruway Authority experienced a significant loss of $631,000 in revenue this year due to an increase in motorists hiding or altering their license plates from tolling cameras. This marks a 55% surge compared to the previous year.

According to statistics from the Thruway Authority, the total losses by mid-November had already exceeded the total losses of $407,000 in 2023. Over the past three years, the Thruway Authority has experienced revenue losses totaling more than $1.2 million from these transactions.

So far this year, there have been 182,000 recorded instances of “malicious obstruction” transactions. This number is higher than the 175,000 recorded in 2023 and more than double the 72,000 recorded in 2022.

Four years have passed since the Thruway Authority transitioned to cashless tolling across its 570-mile highway network. However, the authority now faces the challenge of dealing with drivers who are finding innovative ways to avoid paying tolls.

Overhead cameras capture photos of the license plates of cunning motorists, providing a revealing look into their deceptive strategies. In these images, motorcyclists, including one with a striking tattoo, can be seen reaching back and concealing their plates with their hands.

Some drivers resort to altering the numbers or letters on their plates using markers or black electrical tape. Others have resorted to using fanny packs to obstruct their license plates, while one individual even affixed a skull sticker to obscure the letters and numbers.

According to the Thruway Authority, the increase in lost revenue does not indicate a rise in deliberate obstruction. They explain that the $224,000 rise in revenue lost from 2023 to the present year is due to toll hikes implemented in January 2024.

According to sources, these transactions only constitute a small portion, approximately 0.05%, of the total tolls processed this year. This percentage is similar to the portion seen in 2023. It is worth noting that the Thruway has collected $887 million in tolls thus far in the current year, which is an increase from the $825.5 million collected throughout the entirety of last year.

Thruway Authority spokeswoman Jennifer Givner stated that they are actively developing various enforcement methods to address the issue. She emphasized the significance of maintaining the current toll evasion rate and expressed the agency’s commitment to apprehending individuals who attempt to avoid paying their tolls.

$46M in losses at MTA bridges, tunnels

Tolling agencies across the board have experienced a significant increase in the number of individuals attempting to evade fares and tolls since the pandemic. The Thruway Authority is no exception to this trend.

According to a report by a blue-ribbon panel in 2023, fare and toll evasion on city subways, Metro-North Railroad, the Long Island Rail Road, and bridges and tunnels resulted in a loss of over $700 million for the Metropolitan Transportation Authority in 2022.

The agency heavily depends on fares and tolls, which contribute about $4.6 billion annually, accounting for a quarter of its budget. Detractors of the MTA’s congestion pricing proposal have been using these substantial losses to challenge the implementation of a $9 toll for drivers entering Manhattan’s central business district in January.

Rockland Executive Ed Day criticizes Hochul’s support for a “daily tax” congestion pricing toll, expressing concern about the potential impact on congestion.

Rockland County Executive Ed Day emphasized that the MTA incurs a staggering loss of over $700 million every year due to fare evasion. He firmly believes that before burdening drivers with additional costs, it is crucial for the MTA to take responsibility for effectively managing its budget.

The MTA incurred a loss of $46 million due to toll evasion at its seven bridges and two tunnels in 2022. The figures for 2024 have not yet been disclosed to the public.

In February, MTA officials highlighted the severity of the issue by showcasing the different techniques employed by drivers to evade tolls. These methods include the use of roll-down shutters and license plates that can flip over to display a different plate, reminiscent of something straight out of a James Bond movie.

Cathy Sheridan, the president of Bridges and Tunnels for the Metropolitan Transportation Authority, testified at a February 2024 MTA board meeting regarding the increase in fraud cases among drivers trying to avoid paying tolls.

Using drones to catch toll cheats

During a committee meeting on Monday, an MTA official unveiled a new initiative to address the issue from the air: deploying drones to apprehend repeat offenders.

The drones serve as aerial license plate readers, notifying law enforcement patrol officers whenever they detect persistent violators, specifically drivers with suspended motor vehicle registrations, passing through a toll.

According to an MTA spokeswoman, the license plate reader systems are installed on patrol cars, overhead gantries, and mobile trailers.

The Thruway Authority does not employ drones to apprehend individuals who repeatedly violate the law.

According to estimates, toll theft at the Thruway Authority, the MTA, and the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey, which operates the George Washington Bridge, results in an annual loss of between $35 million and $55 million.

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