Toll increases play a role in cost of goods
The Pennsylvania Turnpike Commission will implement a 5% toll increase starting at 12:01 a.m. Sunday, which has the potential to effect not just people who use the turnpike but the consumers of products carried on the road.
“I believe one of my drivers went from end to end on 76 and it cost the company $530,” local truck driver Logan Reynolds said Wednesday. “That’s across the United States with an E-ZPass. For companies in general, that adds up. It adds up for the consumers as well because that cost is brought back to them.”
Reynolds, who did not want to have his company’s name disclosed, explained that this also could play into how much money he takes home at the end of the day.
“It affects my company, and it affects how much they are able to pay me out. My company, we don’t usually take the toll because it’s so expensive as is already.”
Charles Walls, of Walls Dairy Transport, said he also tries to refrain from traveling the turnpike.
“I try to avoid it,” Walls said. “I take 422 about as far south as I can go. I run about 100 miles every other day.”
According to the toll calculator on the Pennsylvania turnpike website, a trip from Pittsburgh to Philadelphia on the turnpike would run $67.40 without an E-ZPass.
Starting Monday, that same trip will cost $70.80.
Using an E-ZPass will save drivers nearly 60% versus Toll By Plate, officials said.
“I spoke to a lady the other day who said she paid $27 from Bedford to Harrisburg one way,” Reynolds said.
Along with the increase, turnpike officials are reminding drivers of a new law that will suspend motor-vehicle registrations of owners with four or more overdue Toll By Plate invoices or $250 or more in unpaid tolls or outstanding toll invoices.
The new law, signed into law on Nov. 3, went into effect at the start of the new year. It enables the turnpike to work with the state Department of Transportation to crack down on drivers and suspend registrations at a lower threshold.
Before the new law, registration suspensions required six past-due toll invoices or $500 or more in unpaid tolls.
“This law strengthens our efforts to hold violators accountable for failure to pay,” Mark Compton, turnpike CEO, said. “By far, most travelers do the right thing and pay their fair share. If you’re someone who believes there are no consequences for toll theft, we want you to know that you’re mistaken.”
Once convicted, penalties for operating a vehicle with a suspended registration could include a mandatory three-month driver’s license suspension.
This also could include fines up to $500 plus court fees, auto-insurance policy cancellations and higher premiums as well as a record of the violation on the owner’s driving history.
Increase in tolls comes from an Aug. 2 decision by the commission. It is the 15th straight year tolls have been raised.
This decision effects both E-ZPass and Toll By Plate customers, but E-ZPass drivers will still have the lowest rates, according to the Turnpike Commission.
