These drivers could be in for an interesting new tolling method. Photo: MTA
These drivers could exist in for an interesting new tolling method. Photograph: MTA

Gov. Cuomo's focus on fare beating is finally going to start applying to drivers.

This year'due south country budget contains a provision that would enhance the penalty for evading a bridge toll to misdemeanor "theft of services" — the same accuse that applies to fare evasion on the bus and subway, or a max of a year in prison house and a $1,000 fine. A second provision would heighten the fine for passing a cashless tollbooth with an unreadable license plate from $25 to a minimum of $100.

The timing is certainly linked to the rollout of congestion pricing, which could outset as before long every bit January. ane, 2020 with a organization similar to E-Z Laissez passer already used on bridges, highways and tunnels around the state. Equipment in the toll zone charges E-Z Pass holders seamlessly or sends a pecker to drivers without Due east-Z Pass past reading that driver'due south license plate.

Perchance anticipating concern from drivers, Gov. Cuomo suggested price scofflaws have been getting off easy, pining in his fashion about the good erstwhile days when armed guards patrolled cost booths run by Robert Moses, the megalomaniac ability banker.

"He put armed personnel because you would have to pay the cost," Cuomo said in the friendly confines of Alan Chartock's upstate radio prove. "We're now the other way, y'all have electronic tolls, nobody is going to step out with a firearm to stop you." (He near sounded disappointed.)

Cuomo'southward beak is not merely timed to congestion pricing, simply as well to his incessant calls for crackdowns on fare evasion in . the subway and buses, hiring 500 new MTA cops to fissure down on that particular form of "theft of service."

The difference, of form, is that the majority of fare evaders are poor and commit the offense rarely, while car drivers who deface their license plates drive effectually every day committing not but "theft of service" at cost booths, just fugitive having their license plates be captured on carmine light or school zone speed cameras — meaning their offense is far more than significant than a person who jumps a turnstile.

The anonymous keeper of the anti-abuse Twitter account @PlacardAbuse called the increased penalties for license plate defacement "encouraging," but said Cuomo should take gone much further than just catching scofflaw drivers in cashless tolling zones.

"Information technology is encouraging that they are making some endeavor to address some of the forms of corruption we have seen proliferating," they wrote. "[Just] allowing covered or defaced license plates outside tolled areas would permit reckless drivers to go along evading safety camera enforcement. It would also reduce the opportunity to enforce these crimes through routine enforcement statewide, putting more than pressure on specialized enforcement at boosted cost and impact to traffic menses in the congested areas where the tolls are collected."

Information technology is unclear how many drivers would be bailiwick to the new charges. Last January, journalist Steve Bodzin filed a freedom of information police force asking with the MTA to make up one's mind three basic things:

  • How many vehicles did MTA try to bill using camera tolls (rather than E-Z Pass or cash) on each bridge and tunnel from March 1 to Sept. 30, 2018, inclusive?
  • How ofttimes practice the camera tolls neglect to collect a toll because of unreadable license plates?
  • How many summonses accept been given to motorists on or around your bridges and tunnels for having defaced, damaged, or otherwise unreadable license plates?

The agency has yet to respond, though it has sent Bodzin at least six emails saying that the FOIL squad volition accept the data "in approximately 20 (20) business days."

Bodzin is all the same waiting.