WSDOT to start imposing penalties for late toll bills

The state has sent out 300,000 electronic tolling bills
for drivers that crossed area toll bridges without a Good
To Go pass, and the state is warning if those tolls go
unpaid, the fee will quickly increase.

The state is getting ready to start imposing civil
penalties on toll bills for people who are 80 days late on
their toll bills.

“A Notice of Civil Penalty will be assessed in the amount
of $40.00 for each unpaid toll transaction, plus all
accumulated tolls and fees,” according to the Washington
State Department of Transportation.

Drivers may have received a toll bill and not even
realized it, as state tolling director Craig Stone says
the notice comes in a plain white envelope that could be
mistaken for junk mail.

“It does not say ‘state of Washington’ on here. It does
not say ‘Good to Go program,'” said Stone. “It’s very
important individuals pay attention to
the mail as it comes in.”

Stone said some drivers have 50 or more unpaid toll bills;
one driver racked up 80 unpaid bills. The state will block
your next car registration if they go unpaid and the
amount due may be transferred to a collection agency.

The civil penalty is not a moving violation so it will not
affect your drivers license or insurance policy.

The rules also apply to out of town visitors. And if you
recently sold the car that was billed, it’s your
responsibility to call the Good To Go customer service
center and correct the mistake with proof of Bill of Sale.

“There’s no part where we’re just going to waive those
things or just give a grace period on that,” said Stone.
“The key right now is ‘look in your mailbox, look for the
toll bills.'”