Top Class Actions’s website and social media posts use affiliate links. If you make a purchase using such links, we may receive a commission, but it will not result in any additional charges to you. Please review our Affiliate Link Disclosure for more information.
A class action lawsuit has been filed in New York federal court against the Metropolitan Transportation Authority and other entities, alleging that consumers are facing exorbitant penalties from tolls.
Plaintiff Jason Farina of Westchester County, N.Y., filed the MTA class action lawsuit on behalf of himself and others who have been charged $100 fees from using New York’s cashless toll systems: EZ Pass and Tolls-By-Mail.
According to the New York toll fees class action lawsuit, all MTA bridges and tunnels switched to cashless toll collecting in 2017. Because of this change, drivers are no longer able to pay cash as toll booths have been dismantled. Instead, tolls are charged using EZ Pass or Tolls-By-Mail.
The EZ Pass tag is a transponder which communicates with the system’s antenna to record information and process a charge for the toll, which is charged to the vehicle owner’s EZ Pass account. If a vehicle is not linked to an EZ Pass account, the Tolls-By-Mail system collects the toll by taking a picture of the vehicle and its license plate, which is used to identify the vehicle owner. A bill for the toll is subsequently mailed to the vehicle owner.
The cashless toll system was meant to eliminate traffic congestion in toll booth lines and allow MTA to shift its employees from collecting tolls into roles focused on the safety and security of motorists.
“However, Defendants — who operate those systems and collect tolls from drivers — have used the cashless toll system to line their own pockets at the expense of drivers, primarily by collecting improper fees and penalties in addition to collecting the tolls,” the MTA toll fee class action lawsuit says.
Farina claims that the penalties faced by drivers who do not pay the toll are often substantially higher than the actual toll and may result in drivers being charged more than $100 to cross a bridge or tunnel. Even worse, the defendants impose these fines without giving prior notice to the drivers and wait weeks before notifying them about the penalties. In the meantime, drivers may unknowingly rack up more charges.
“Defendants also aggressively pursue collection efforts against motorists, threatening them with adverse credit reports, suspension of the driver’s license, revocation of their vehicle registration, and seizure of their tax refunds if they do not immediately pay the fees,” Farina alleges in the MTA toll fee class action lawsuit.
Farina claims that he has been charged more than $6,000 from October 2017 to January 2018 by using his EZ Pass on New York’s bridges and tunnels. He claims he never had any significant problems with his EZ Pass tags or account before experiencing these penalties.
Farina says the defendants’ equipment routinely fails to recognize EZ Pass even when a driver has a fully-funded EZ Pass account. He notes that EZ Pass readings can fail for a variety of reasons, such as window tinting, the position of the vehicle, or a dead EZ Pass battery. EZ Pass users are unable to know when the defendants’ equipment fails to read the EZ Pass.
The MTA class action lawsuit says the toll fees are unconstitutional.
Farina is represented by Stephen J. Fearon Jr. of Squitieri & Fearon LLP.
The MTA Toll Fee Class Action Lawsuit is Jason Farina v. Metropolitan Transportation Authority, et al., Case No. 1:18-cv-01433, in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York.
ATTORNEY ADVERTISING
Top Class Actions is a Proud Member of the American Bar Association
LEGAL INFORMATION IS NOT LEGAL ADVICE
Top Class Actions Legal Statement
©2008 – 2024 Top Class Actions® LLC
Various Trademarks held by their respective owners
This website is not intended for viewing or usage by European Union citizens.
365 thoughts onEZ Pass Class Action Alleges N.Y. Consumers Face Unconstitutional Toll Fees
As of Monday I call EZ Pass and I asked him for a request of pictures transcripts and how many times I wanted through these tolls and I still haven’t received anything but they still charge over the amount from last month to the next month I think this is a rip off I think I need to be added to this class action lawsuit without any proof they have nothing I have proof
So I got hit with 5k I disputed with them now they sent me three lettets ones for 78 another one for 68 the other one for 661 I can’t anymore my registration was suspended and probably again I can’t they hit with violation of 100 dollars it’s to much
I would like to be added to the class action suit as well. I was just served. Ezpass is suing me for $4,000 for using from march to June of 2020.. my ezpass out of nowhere stop working. They just stopped replenishing it as per usual. But the amount of tolls are extreme, there’s no way my vehicle went through that many times. And please do not get me started on the fees. Horrible they used the pandemic to scheme people.
Please add me to this lawsuit! I received notice of registration suspension as of 3/13/2023 if I dont Pay the amount due before then. The fees have racked up to over 13k!!! For driving over a bridge!???! I’m not breaking laws or doing anything illegal. I’m literally DRIVING FROM POINT A TO POINT B! 13k$ for driving!? Why do they wait until it’s such a high amount to advise your vehicle will be suspended? At a price that is impossible to pay with such short notice. Why is this legal? New York really loves to milk the American people for every last penny huh..
I would like to be added to this class action lawsuit . I have been told that my registration is suspended until I pay $8,000 to toll by mail. Then when I asked who can I speak to to handle this manner they gave me 5 different numbers to the collection agencies that they split my charges with. That is unlawful and to sell my information without my consent is horrendous not to mention I was not notified that my charges have been put into collections nor was I notified that my registration was suspended until I went to the dmv and tried to register another car in my name. I would really like some legal advice and to join this class action.
I will like to join this lawsuit. I have ezpass, I loaded it that day, it didn’t ring. They added 50.00 to the toll.
Please Add me to the lawsuit as well. I am in SI, NY and the fees are ridiculous. and when notified you are left more confused as to how or why you are getting charged the $100. Please Advise.
Include me in this class action lawsuit
Yes we need this lawsuit. Ez pass fees are ridiculous and they charge you even though you put money on the account. They blame you for their processing time. I am so over them. Please add me
I have $18,000.00 in tolls and they drop it $ 5,000.00 still a lot
This Is not ezpass more like fee-pass
My uncles registration was just suspended. They told me he would have to pay just under $13,000 to get the suspension lifted! He is 74 and had no idea. The tolls are dated back from 2018! This is pretty much high jacking peoples vehicles! What can we do?
I was just charged $1360 in tolls and $4250 in fees that makes no sense at all and it’s pay or get your car taken and there’s no payment plan and I didn’t ask for the tooth Booth to be taken down I had no problem paying and I lived in my house for almost 20 years and most of these toll by mail never made it to my mailbox please add me to this class action suit
I would too like to join this lawsuit. It is extortion. I have bills racked up from 2019 from when I lived on Grand Island and the transition was hell. I tried paying, but the more I paid the more I fell behind. I need some advisement.