Requires notices of liability issued for nonpayment of tolls to be uniform in form and content and contain information on monetary penalties, the public authority issuing the notice of liability and the rates, fees, or charges applicable to nonpayment of tolls.
NEW YORK STATE ASSEMBLY MEMORANDUM IN SUPPORT OF LEGISLATION submitted in accordance with Assembly Rule III, Sec 1(f)
BILL NUMBER: A10104A
SPONSOR: Berger TITLE OF BILL:
An act to amend the public authorities law, in relation to requiring
notices of liability issued for nonpayment of tolls to be uniform in
form and content and contain specific information
PURPOSE OR GENERAL IDEA OF BILL::
To ensure that motorists receive clear, uniform, and transparent notices
of liability for toll violations, including disclosure of applicable
penalties, rates, and fees, and to require tolling authorities to
provide notice when electronic toll accounts or automatic payment meth-
ods have been disconnected or terminated.
SUMMARY OF PROVISIONS::
Section 1 amends subdivision seven of section 2985 of the public author-
ities law by adding a new paragraph (e) to require that notices of
liability for toll violations be uniform in form and content across all
authorized public authorities, clearly disclose applicable monetary
penalties and any rates, fees, or charges for nonpayment of tolls, iden-
tify the public authority imposing such penalties, and require written
notice to account holders when an electronic toll account or automatic
payment method has been disconnected or terminated. This section also
establishes that all surcharges, fees, or penalties imposed by a public
authority are invalid if the public authority fails to comply with the
requirement to provide notices
Section 2 provides the effective date.
JUSTIFICATION::
Toll enforcement in New York is carried out by multiple public authori-
ties, each of which may issue notices of liability with differing
formats, terminology, and levels of detail. As a result, motorists may
receive notices that are confusing, inconsistent, or unclear as to the
penalties being imposed, the authority imposing them, or the conse-
quences of nonpayment.
This lack of uniformity can lead to misunderstanding, delayed payment,
and the accrual of significant penalties and fees, particularly where
motorists are unaware that an electronic toll account or automatic
payment method has been disconnected or terminated. In many cases, indi-
viduals do not learn of such account issues until after receiving a
notice of liability that includes substantial additional charges.
This bill promotes transparency by requiring standardized notices that
clearly and conspicuously disclose all applicable penalties, rates, and
fees, and by ensuring that motorists are notified when their toll
accounts or payment methods are no longer active. These reforms will
help motorists better understand their obligations, reduce unnecessary
disputes, and improve confidence in the toll enforcement system.
PRIOR LEGISLATIVE HISTORY::
New bill.
FISCAL IMPLICATIONS FOR STATE AND LOCAL GOVERNMENTS::
To be determined.
EFFECTIVE DATE::
This act shall take effect on the one hundred twentieth day after it
shall have become a law.
STATE OF NEW YORK
________________________________________________________________________
10104--A
IN ASSEMBLY
February 2, 2026
___________
Introduced by M. of A. BERGER -- read once and referred to the Committee
on Corporations, Authorities and Commissions -- committee discharged,
bill amended, ordered reprinted as amended and recommitted to said
committee
AN ACT to amend the public authorities law, in relation to requiring
notices of liability issued for nonpayment of tolls to be uniform in
form and content and contain specific information
The People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and Assem-bly, do enact as follows:
1 Section 1. Subdivision 7 of section 2985 of the public authorities law
2 is amended by adding a new paragraph (e) to read as follows:
3 (e) A notice of liability issued pursuant to this section shall be
4 uniform in form and content across all public authorities authorized to
5 issue such notices pursuant to this section and shall contain a clear
6 and conspicuous statement of the monetary penalties applicable to the
7 violation charged, including the penalty authorized for a first
8 violation, a second violation within eighteen months, and a third or
9 subsequent violation within eighteen months, as set forth in subdivision
10 five of this section, and shall further specify the rates, fees, or
11 charges applicable to nonpayment of tolls as prescribed by the public
12 authority issuing such notice, and clearly identify the public authority
13 authorized to impose such penalties, rates, fees, or charges. Where an
14 automatic payment method has been disconnected or an electronic toll
15 collection account has been terminated, the public authority shall
16 provide written notice of such disconnection or termination to the
17 account holder prior to, or contemporaneously with, the issuance of any
18 notice of liability. Failure by a public authority to provide such
19 notice shall render null and void any surcharges, fees, or additional
20 penalties accruing after the date of such disconnection or termination.
21 § 2. This act shall take effect on the one hundred twentieth day after
22 it shall have become a law.
EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[] is old law to be omitted.
LBD14661-02-6
