In February Maryland Transportation Authority (MDTA) Board approved a Customer Assistance Plan with a penalty grace window through November 30th.
Last February, the Maryland Transportation Authority (MDTA) Board approved a Customer Assistance Plan that includes a civil penalty waiver grace period that waives all civil penalties for customers who pay their unpaid tolls by 11:59 p.m. on November 30, 2022. Effective February 24, 2022, the MDTA had begun a civil penalty waiver grace period for tolls paid in full and has ceased referring toll bills to the Central Collection Unit (CCU) and MDOT Motor Vehicle Administration (MDOT MVA) temporarily. For every Video Toll transaction paid in full while the plan is in place, the corresponding civil penalty is waived. The grace period will end at 11:59 p.m. on November 30, 2022, and the MDTA will resume referrals of unpaid toll bills and civil penalties to CCU and MDOT MVA on December 1.
The waiver grace period and the move to temporarily cease referrals to CCU and MDOT MVA for unpaid toll bills come after Governor Larry Hogan asked the agency and the MDTA Board members to explore ways to provide relief for customers facing late fees on toll bills that accrued during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic.
According to the February press release:
"The deferral of toll bills during the pandemic protected Marylanders from hardship during one of the greatest health and economic emergencies of our lifetimes, but we realize paying off those bills now can be a challenge for many families," said Maryland Transportation Secretary James F. Ports, Jr., who serves as MDTA Board Chairman. "The Customer Assistance Plan approved today by the MDTA Board responds to Governor Hogan's request – as well as our customers' requests – to explore relief options. The plan gives Marylanders plenty of time, more than nine months, to pay toll bills without having to worry about additional penalties or other consequences."
The Customer Assistance Plan provides the following measures:
- Immediately discontinue referrals of toll bills to CCU and MDOT MVA.
- Establish a civil penalty waiver grace period that waives all civil penalties for all customers who pay all their unpaid tolls by 11:59 p.m. on November 30, 2022.
- Work with MDTA's toll vendor to increase the number of customer service agents to reduce call and web chat wait times.
- Work with MDTA's toll vendor to explore a payment plan opportunity.
It's important to remember that the Customer Assistance Plan is not toll forgiveness, nor is it an elimination of tolls owed. Tolling remains in effect statewide, and drivers are responsible for paying the outstanding toll amount.
This plan does not impact the posting of backlogged tolls. The MDTA will continue posting COVID-backlogged tolls into summer 2022. For customers who choose not to pay their Video Tolls before the due date on the notice, mailings of citations/civil penalties will continue during the grace period and will remain in effect if unpaid tolls are not paid by 11:59 p.m. on November 30, 2022 (within the grace period).
Read the full original press release.
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