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Sponsors
Senator · Senate District 38
No co-sponsors yet.
History
- Referred to codes
- Delivered to assembly
- Passed senateVote 56–1
- Advanced to third reading
- 2nd report cal.
- 1st report cal.1054
- Referred to codes
Full text
The text isn't available here yet. Check nysenate.gov.
Sponsor's memo
BILL NUMBER:S7602
Title of bill
An act to amend the penal law, in relation to theft of services
Purpose
To address the problem of toll evasion by clarifying that avoidance of tolls on a toll road, bridge or tunnel constitutes theft of services.
Summary of provisions
Section 1. Amends subdivision 3 of section 165.15 of the penal law to make clear that theft of public transportation services shall include avoidance of tolls on a toll road, bridge or tunnel.
Justification
Several public authorities in New York have implemented the electronic toll collection system commonly referred to as E-ZPass. The E-ZPass system has increased customer convenience while reducing travel time, fuel consumption and potential back-ups at toll plazas for the Thruway Authority and other public authorities.
While the benefits of E-ZPass are numerous, it does provide opportunities for abuse. Those who are not E-ZPass subscribers can evade tolls by driving through lanes designated for that purpose. This legislation takes a comprehensive approach to addressing the problem of toll evasion by clarifying the existing theft of services offense to make clear that it also includes avoidance of paying tolls on any road, bridge or tunnel that requires them.
This bill would strengthen the ability of New York's four authorities that operate toll facilities-the Thruway Authority, the Metropolitan Transportation Authority, the Bridge Authority, and the Port Authority-to effectively manage and enforce the collection of tolls throughout the State. Toll violators cost the tolling authorities tens of millions of dollars each year, and the current law is outdated and ineffective in enforcing against persistent violators. Some persistent violators owe in excess of $100,000 in tolls and fees.
Legislative history
New bill.
Fiscal implications
To be determined.
Effective date
This act shall take effect on the one hundred twentieth day after it shall have become a law.
Summaries, headlines and scores are AI-generated from the official bill text. How we score bills. Source: NYS Open Legislation.