JAMESTOWN, R.I. (AP) — State officials say drivers crossing Rhode Island’s Newport Pell Bridge have racked up $9.6 million in unpaid tolls, fees and fines in the last six years, and there is often little the state Turnpike and Bridge Authority can do to go after them.
Authority Executive Director Buddy Croft tells WPRI-TV that only about $1.4 million of that total us unpaid tolls. Croft also joined WPRO’s Dan Yorke on Tuesday afternoon and said “I understand the sticker shock. If you do the math, we’re still collecting at the same rate as we were when people were sticking Chuck E Cheese tokens in our basket.”
LISTEN TO THE FULL CONVERSATION BELOW
In the case of in-state drivers, the authority can ask the Department of Motor Vehicles to freeze license and motor vehicle registration renewals when a driver goes over the bridge 20 times or more without paying. But it takes 100 free rides before the agency can take them to court.
The agency, because of an agreement with Massachusetts authorities, can only go after Bay State drivers for unpaid tolls.
