Washington Post: Maryland penalties for toll cheats to increase (http://www.washingtonpost.com/local/trafficandcommuting/maryland-penalties-for-toll-cheats-to-increase/2013/04/08/a510a87c-a07d-11e2-9c03-6952ff305f35_story.html)
QuoteMotorists who drive through E-ZPass lanes at Maryland toll plazas without an E-ZPass transponder soon could have their vehicle registrations flagged for nonrenewal and possibly suspended if they don't pay the tolls by mail.
QuoteLegislation that passed the Maryland General Assembly on Friday allows the state to issue $50 civil citations for toll bills unpaid after 30 days. Refusal to pay the citation or contest it in District Court would result in the vehicle's registration being flagged for nonrenewal until the debt is paid. After multiple violations, the registration would be suspended, which would allow police to impound the vehicle, state tolling officials said.
TOLLROADSnews: Maryland brings law into line with video toll practice - notice of toll due first, citation when unpaid (http://www.tollroadsnews.com/node/6510)
QuoteMaryland's general assembly has passed HB420, a bill bringing state law into line with video toll practice. And it gives the state toll authority (Maryland Transportation Authority or MdTA) the power to adopt reciprocal agreements with other states to collect out-of-state video tolls. HB420 was supported by MdTA and the governor is expected to sign it into law. It would go into effect July 1.
QuoteCurrent Maryland law written before video toll collection makes it violation or offense subject to a $75 citation merely to drive an electronic toll lane without an E-ZPass transponder. So for more than two years since the all-electronic MD200 Inter County Connector tollroad opened - tolls started March 7, 2011 - the management of MdTA has been operating a tollroad where the only options are the E-ZPass transponder or a video toll, the video toll being advertised at a 50% premium over the transponder toll. MdTA sent video toll customers a notice of toll due - a bill.
QuoteActually MdTA had for several years before been treating motorists driving without a transponder in E-ZPass Only lanes at facilities with cash in similar fashion. The first action was a video or image-based toll bill in the mail.