Provides that no suspension of a registration shall occur for a violation regarding cashless tolls absent clear evidence of an owner's intent to repeatedly evade paying such tolls.
NEW YORK STATE ASSEMBLY MEMORANDUM IN SUPPORT OF LEGISLATION submitted in accordance with Assembly Rule III, Sec 1(f)
BILL NUMBER: A5814
SPONSOR: Hyndman TITLE OF BILL:
An act to amend the vehicle and traffic law, in relation to suspending
the registration of a vehicle for evading cashless tolls
PURPOSE:
To ensure that only drivers who criminally intend to evade cashless
tolling systems have their vehicle registration suspended, as opposed to
otherwise law-following individuals who may fail to pay tolls by mail
bills for other reasons that are not criminal in nature.
SUMMARY OF PROVISIONS:
This bill seeks to accomplish two things: One, set a clear, rational and
narrowly focused standard for the suspension of an individual's motor
vehicle registration in the case of cashless toll violations--No suspen-
sions of registrations shall occur absent clear evidence of criminal
intent to repeatedly evade paying tolls. Two, as a matter of fundamental
fairness, all current suspensions of registrations that lack clear
evidence of criminal intent to repeatedly evade paying tolls shall be
reversed, without penalty, to the driver/registrant.
JUSTIFICATION:
The transition to cashless tolling has now reached every avenue and
corner of our vast State, yet universal employment of E2 Pass has yet to
be achieved, with a least 10-15% of our population reportedly not using
this optional technology, which is often . Toll By Mail rates are
already higher, carry stiffer monetary penalties and are otherwise not
consumer friendly to those individuals who eschew EZ Pass, or simply do
not pay close attention to the systematic change of outside systems.
Well-meaning, law-abiding citizens who have not paid close attention to
the forced social change from Toll Booths to Technology have had their
registrations suspended and yet these folks do not have a criminal or
scofflaw-like bone in their body. Clear, active criminal intent should
be a prerequisite for turning someone's life upside down.
LEGISLATIVE HISTORY:
2023-24: A9490/S5562 2022:S4354
FISCAL IMPLICATIONS:
None.
EFFECTIVE DATE:
This act shall take effect immediately.
