A law that’s been in existence since 1953 granted the Army National Guard, Air National Guard, New York Naval Militia, New York Guard and other active duty military members free passage through toll booths, tunnels, bridges and ferries. A provision the governor has simply not included in his plans to roll out cashless tolling here in New York State.

In the past, members of the military were able to pass through toll booths on the Thruway without being charged – while in uniform or by simple presenting their orders for duty, something that has become much more difficult with cashless tolling in New York State.

In areas of the state where cashless tolling is already in effect, military service members are in fact being charged tolls and find themselves navigating the endless bureaucracy of the EZ-PASS system and then filling out multiple forms and requests for reimbursement – and hoping they actually get it at some point. A cumbersome process to say the least.

Assemblyman Angelo Santabarbara has introduced new legislation that calls on the New York State Thruway Authority to make provision to restore military benefits in the state’s cashless tolling before the rollout which is planned for later this year. “With the changeover to cashless tolling by the end of 2020, it will no longer be possible for military service members to present their orders to toll collectors,” Santabarbara said. “Codifying this provision into law will ensure that those traveling under orders are not paying tolls.”

“All the planning for cashless tolling the Governor has talked about, yet our military service members have been left out – this is unacceptable,” Santabarbara added, who himself was a member of the US Army Reserve for 8 years. “This effort has cost the state millions of dollars – and the men and women who serve our country deserve better,” Santabarbara said. “It’s important that we do all that we can to support local military installations like the 109th Airlift Wing here in the Capital Region and the many others throughout the state. They are important not only for protecting us, but also supporting our local economies, our culture and our way of life.”