Rhode Island To Crack Down On Newport Bridge Toll Evaders

NEWPORT, RI — Have you ever driven through the open EZ pass lane of the Newport Pell Bridge, thinking no one would notice? If so, get ready to pay up. Both the House of Representatives and Senate passed a bill aimed at cracking down on toll violators and evaders by lowering the threshold for fines.

Under the legislation, the definitions of "toll violator" and " toll evader" have been redefined to lower standards, punishing fare jumpers after fewer violations. Drivers will now be considered "toll violators" after 10 infractions instead of 20, while drivers will now be considered "toll evaders" after 20 violations instead of 100.

"When drivers rack up that many toll violations, it becomes unfair to everyone else who diligently pays the tolls every time they go over a tolled bridge," said Portsmouth Representative John Edwards, one of the bill's sponsors. "It unfairly shifts the financial burden of maintaining those bridges to other users. And we owe it to taxpayers to see that those projects are funded in a fair and equitable manner."

Once a driver is branded a toll violator, he or she cannot renew their license at the Rhode Island Division of Motor Vehicles until all outstanding tolls, fees and fines have been repaid. Toll evaders, meanwhile, could be called to the Rhode Island Traffic Tribunal, where they could face a license suspension of up to six months, a $500 fine or both.

"When you have electronic tolling, such as E-Z Pass, it’s inevitable that you’re going to have toll violators," said Aquidneck Island Senator Louis DiPalma. "For those few who don’t take the bridge tolls seriously, this legislation will give us a way to get their attention, and let them know that they’re going to be expected to pay the same as everyone else."

The bill now moves to Governor Gina Raimondo's office to be signed into law.