PennDOT Secretary’s surprising response to question about E-ZPass penalties

PITTSBURGH — The PennDOT Secretary of Transportation was questioned at a state budget hearing in Harrisburg today about an issue exposed in a Channel 11 investigation.

11 Investigates discovered thousands of Pennsylvania Turnpike customers were being blindsided by $10 penalty fees when their E-ZPass failed to read properly going through a toll plaza. More than 250,000 customers were hit with the charges last year alone, and our investigation showed the Turnpike never notified them.

In response to our reports, new legislation was introduced calling for more transparency from the Pennsylvania Turnpike, but today, the Secretary of Transportation appeared completely unaware of the problem.

“It’s an issue with V-tolling. Are you familiar with V-tolling, Madame Secretary? V-tolls?” State Rep. Ryan Warner of Washington and Fayette counties asked PennDOT Secretary Yasmeen Gramian. “Any other deputy secretaries familiar with V-tolling? OK.”

Warner introduced the bill calling for more transparency by the Turnpike, and says he was stunned that neither the secretary, nor any of her deputy secretaries, indicated they even knew what a V-toll is.

He says it’s surprising, particularly because PennDOT is tasked with oversight of the Turnpike Commission; and these V-tolls impacted a quarter of a million customers last year alone, at a time when toll rates were being increased.

“This is a major issue,” Warner told Secretary Gramian. “When you’re talking about increasing tolls on the hardworking taxpayers of Pennsylvania. The people that drive to work every day. The people that use this Turnpike every single day. And knowing that that toll is being increased without any oversight or concern is a little bit troubling.”

Warner’s legislation calling for the Turnpike to start notifying customers about the $10 V-tolls has at least a dozen bipartisan co-sponsors. Since the bill was filed in December, the Turnpike has started to notify some customers, but not all.

Warner says that’s not good enough. He’s pushing for a hearing on the issue, especially now, he says, after seeing the secretary’s response and apparent lack of knowledge about the issue today.

Pennsylvania bill introduced to protect E-ZPass customers from surprise charges

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