Tom Warne Report, 13 April 2012
The Washington State Department of Transportation has sent out the first round of 700 civil penalty notices for drivers who did not pay their tolls under the state’s new tolling system on the Tacoma Narrows and the State Route 520 Bridges. The registered owners of vehicles have 80 days to pay their tolls before they receive civil penalty notices as part of the state’s new enforcement to collect overdue toll bills.
“This new enforcement program is designed for the unique nature of our photo tolling system,” said Toll Division Director Craig Stone of the Washington State Department of Transportation. “The new process strengthens one of the main reasons we’re tolling these bridges – to pay for them. This effort allows us to put collected tolls, fees and penalties back into each bridge program.”
WSDOT, which manages the state’s two tolled bridges – SR 520 across Lake Washington and the Tacoma Narrows – will mail the first civil penalty notices to registered owners of vehicles that crossed either bridge more than 80 days ago but have not paid the toll. The notices will include an initial toll amount, a $5 reprocessing fee for each reminder bill plus an added $40 civil penalty for each unpaid toll transaction. Those registered vehicle owners will have up to 20 days to respond to WSDOT with payment or to dispute the civil penalty.
“Don’t wait if you receive a notice of civil penalty—you need to act,” Stone said. “You have two options: pay the civil penalty or, if you think you are not responsible for it, dispute the civil penalty in writing or request a hearing.”