Port Authority of New York and New Jersey turns up heat on toll cheats in 2024

The Port Authority of New York and New Jersey today announced that it is turning up the heat on toll cheats, issuing summonses and making arrests at a record pace over the first six months of the year as it intensifies targeted patrols and multi-agency efforts to apprehend drivers who skip out on paying their tolls.

Data from the Port Authority Police Department (PAPD) show that the total number of summonses issued by its officers increased by 55 percent and the number of arrests increased by 54 percent in the first six months of 2024 compared to the same period in 2023. Drivers who were issued summonses in that period collectively owed the agency more than $4.2 million. These included several repeat offenders who alone racked up toll bills of hundreds of thousands of dollars.

"Toll cheats, beware: we’re cracking down with summonses and arrests up more than 50 percent since last year,” said Port Authority Chairman Kevin O’Toole. “Thousands of motorists have already found out the hard way that if you try to cheat your way out of paying what you owe, it’s not a question of if we’ll catch you, but when."

“Between targeted patrols, streamlined data collection, and other resources, we’re leaving no stone unturned in our pursuit of drivers who think they can cheat the system,” said Port Authority Executive Director Rick Cotton. “Over the first six months of the year, thousands found out the hard way just how serious we are about our commitment to equity and fairness for all of our customers.”

“Any driver under the illusion that they can evade payment at our crossings should heed this warning: Detection is inevitable, and consequences are assured," said Port Authority Police Superintendent Edward Cetnar. “As these robust summons and arrest numbers show, we are determined and committed to ensuring drivers are following the law when they use our roadways.”

In the first six months of 2024, a total of 4,836 summonses were issued for toll-related violations by PAPD officers. This was a 55 percent increase over the 3,103 summonses issued during the same period in 2023. The bulk of the summonses, totaling 3,940 citations, were issued for obstructed/missing/fictitious license plates. From January 1 through June 30, Port Authority police also arrested 63 individuals for theft of service and fictitious license plates. This was a 54 percent increase in the arrest total from the same period in 2023, when 41 motorists were arrested.

The Port Authority is focused on seeking out egregious repeat offenders who often owe totals in the hundreds of thousands of dollars. Toll evaders who repeatedly do not pay their bills on time may be subject to having their vehicles’ registrations suspended and their vehicles towed and impounded by PAPD at the owners’ expense. Repeat offenders also may be subject to civil litigation for toll recovery.

Motorists can avoid administrative fees and vehicle registration suspensions for unpaid toll violations by paying their toll bills on time or by signing up for E-ZPass. With an E-ZPass account, customers can link a credit card or bank account to make the tolling process as seamless as possible and save as much as 20 percent on tolls at the agency’s crossings.