Pennsylvania Turnpike Teams up with Attorney General’s Office to Strengthen Toll Collection and Promote Fairness
Middletown, Pa. — More than 100 egregious toll violation cases have been referred to the Attorney General’s Office for civil action in the last year, resulting from a new strategic partnership between the Pennsylvania Turnpike Commission and Pennsylvania Office of Attorney General that aims to enhance toll enforcement and promote fairness across the PA Turnpike’s system.
“Our partnership with the Attorney General’s Office is a powerful example of how collaboration drives accountability and fairness,” said Michael Carroll, Chairman of the Pennsylvania Turnpike Commission and PA Secretary of Transportation. “The vast majority of our customers pay their tolls. But, if someone chooses to use our road and intentionally avoids payment, they will be held accountable by the Attorney General.”
Toll collection enforcement traditionally has three phases. First, Toll By Plate invoices are sent to the registered owner’s address. If unpaid, the individual is handed over to a collection agency. If payment is still not made, and the customer has four or more outstanding Toll By Plate invoices or owes tolls and fees of $250 or more, their vehicle registration is suspended by the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation.
Driving with a suspended registration is a serious traffic violation that may lead to significant fines, license suspension and immediate car impounding. The PA Turnpike supports the use of license plate recognition technology by law enforcement officials on and off its roadway to identify those operating a vehicle with a suspended registration.
Now, individuals who choose to ignore standard collection efforts may be referred to the Pennsylvania Office of the Attorney General Civil Law Division for further enforcement actions, including having civil collection actions filed against them.
Partnering with the Attorney General’s Office provides an additional layer of accountability for these drivers, who owe more than $12,000 in tolls and fees.
“More than half a million people use the Pennsylvania Turnpike daily to get to work, visit their families, or go on vacation. When people driving on our turnpike try to evade paying their tolls, it shifts the cost burden onto other law-abiding motorists,” Pennsylvania Attorney General Dave Sunday said. “When you receive a Toll By Plate invoice in the mail from the Pennsylvania Turnpike, it is important you pay that invoice on time to avoid legal action being taken.”
The PA Turnpike successfully collects between 92-94% of transactions within 60 days, aligning with nationwide industry standards. Over the last five years, the PA Turnpike has strengthened its enforcement efforts and strategy, resulting in increased payments.
As of November 2025, the PA Turnpike Commission has collected more than $56 million in unpaid tolls and fees from violators in Toll Enforcement. Additionally:
- Revenue collected in the first quarter of FY 26 was more than double what was collected for the same period in FY25. The Commission has collected $6.5M for the current financial year, compared to $2.4M in the previous year.
- More people are paying past-due tolls – 43% in October 2025 compared to 33% in October 2024.
- The PA Turnpike achieved a record number of paid-in-full cases, as well as payment plan completion rates – completing more than 21,000 payment plans since 2018.
To further support compliance and make payment easier, the Commission has expanded payment options to Google and Apple Pay and expanded its KUBRA cash payment network to over 85,000 retail locations. Customers can also pay bills online, by phone, in person, or via QR code.
“We continue to offer more ways to pay a PA Turnpike invoice to deliver on customer convenience,” added Mark Compton, CEO of the Pennsylvania Turnpike Commission. “And, we continue to investigate additional methods that help consumers choose the best option for their circumstances. That said, pursuing those who refuse to pay is one way we’re working to make system access and costs more equitable.”
The PA Turnpike is a limited access toll road and does not receive tax dollars for its operations. Instead, its maintenance, construction and other operating costs are financed by travelers choosing to use the road. Paying tolls is a direct investment in the roadway's infrastructure, supporting operations that provide a safer, more reliable highway system benefitting communities across the Commonwealth.
While E-ZPass is the most cost-effective way to travel the Pennsylvania Turnpike with up to 50% savings on tolls, the PA Turnpike also provides a 15% discount for Toll By Plate customers who pre-register and verify their email address and credit card for invoicing ahead of travel.
For more information about the Pennsylvania Turnpike’s Revenue Assurance efforts, visit http://www.paturnpike.com.
A national transportation leader, the Pennsylvania Turnpike (PA Turnpike) is the second largest tolling facility in the United States with the most miles. The PA Turnpike proudly supports safety and convenience for its more than 550,000 daily customers through 24-7 roadside assistance, round-the-clock food and fuel at 17 service plazas and a dedicated maintenance force and State Police Troop. The PA Turnpike’s approximately 1,400-person local workforce is unified in its mission; to operate a safe, reliable, customer-valued toll road system that supports national mobility and commerce. For more information about the PA Turnpike’s mission, vision and values, please visit Home | PA Turnpike.
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Media Contacts:
Marissa Orbanek, Press Secretary: (267) 408-5151, morbanek@paturnpike.com
Crispin Havener, Assistant Press Secretary: (717) 870-2841, chavener@paturnpike.com