E-ZPass grace period to pay video tolls without penalties extended (2024)

Maryland E-ZPass customers who owe back tolls have more time to settle their outstanding balance.The deadline to pay the tolls without penalties was Wednesday night, but the Maryland Transportation Authority called a special board meeting in the afternoon to address the customer assistance plan. The board voted to extend the deadline by two weeks until Dec. 14 to allow customers to pay their tolls.The customer assistance plan is not toll forgiveness, nor is it an elimination of tolls owed. Those who still have outstanding tolls after the deadline will face civil penalties and they will not be able to register vehicles with the Motor Vehicle Administration.The extension came as a surprise to hundreds of people who waited in line for hours in the cold rain Wednesday outside the E-ZPass customer service center near the Fort McHenry Tunnel, hoping to pay up by the deadline."We lost a lot of money not going to work today. So, a lot of us are paying the price for it," said James Schuler, who was waiting in line to pay his tolls. "When I come back, it'll be the morning or next week ... I'll be more prepared for it than I am today, for sure."But Wednesday started much differently with the deadline looming. Some people waited in line for as long as five hours outside MDTA toll facilities.In February, the MDTA approved a plan to waive E-ZPass penalties, but customers complained they haven't received toll bills or they have been charged exorbitant fees and have been billed mistakenly.| RELATED: MDTA board waives E-ZPass penalties for unpaid tolls through November"The only reason we're all out here is their fault. They never sent us notices, we don't know how much we owe and then they want to give us penalties. It's their fault, not ours. We're suffering," said Courtney, who declined to give her last name.She said she has been calling for months and was told she doesn't owe anything, but knowing she owes, she came from Pennsylvania to handle it."If they would've sent me my notice, I would've gladly paid and never been down here. They would've never saw me," Courtney said.Cynthia Boyd said she didn't find out until last week that she owes about $500.| RELATED: Frustrated E-ZPass users petition for billing system investigation"I've been out here since 8:30 this morning. I have to go back to work," Boyd said. "I don't know if I paid. I wanted to make sure that I wasn't repaying again because I know it was some computer glitches with the system. But I have an E-ZPass account. I was booted out of my account. I didn't find out until last week when I came here."Jennifer Kane received her toll bill two weeks ago and stood in line while on hold on the phone, waiting for E-ZPass customer service. She got no answer and had to leave to pick her kids up from school."I've been on hold for over 3 1/2 hours," Kane said.Phillip Johnson told 11 News he is frustrated with the system, but said the solution is simple."Extend it. Here's what we do, extend it, just extend it. It's not that hard," Johnson said.Bills now have to be paid by 11:59 p.m. on Dec. 14, or penalties will take effect for each violation. The MDTA warned this is the only extension it's giving.| RELATED: Maryland E-Z Pass complaints persist over billing issuesCustomers who have unpaid video tolls can pay by the following methods:Go to Find My Tolls and find tolls using the notice mailing number(s) or by checking all license plates for all recent addresses.Mail the bottom portion of the notice(s) along with a check or money order (do not send cash) payable to: Maryland Transportation AuthorityPO Box 12853Philadelphia, PA 19176-0853Use the automated call system 24/7 at 866-320-9995 (select Option 1 for notice of toll due, then enter the mailing number on the notice when prompted).Visit an in-person Customer Service Center to drop off the bottom portion of the notice(s) along with a check or money order (do not use cash) in designated drop boxes.

BALTIMORE —

Maryland E-ZPass customers who owe back tolls have more time to settle their outstanding balance.

The deadline to pay the tolls without penalties was Wednesday night, but the Maryland Transportation Authority called a special board meeting in the afternoon to address the customer assistance plan. The board voted to extend the deadline by two weeks until Dec. 14 to allow customers to pay their tolls.

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The customer assistance plan is not toll forgiveness, nor is it an elimination of tolls owed. Those who still have outstanding tolls after the deadline will face civil penalties and they will not be able to register vehicles with the Motor Vehicle Administration.

The extension came as a surprise to hundreds of people who waited in line for hours in the cold rain Wednesday outside the E-ZPass customer service center near the Fort McHenry Tunnel, hoping to pay up by the deadline.

"We lost a lot of money not going to work today. So, a lot of us are paying the price for it," said James Schuler, who was waiting in line to pay his tolls. "When I come back, it'll be the morning or next week ... I'll be more prepared for it than I am today, for sure."

But Wednesday started much differently with the deadline looming. Some people waited in line for as long as five hours outside MDTA toll facilities.

In February, the MDTA approved a plan to waive E-ZPass penalties, but customers complained they haven't received toll bills or they have been charged exorbitant fees and have been billed mistakenly.

| RELATED: MDTA board waives E-ZPass penalties for unpaid tolls through November

"The only reason we're all out here is their fault. They never sent us notices, we don't know how much we owe and then they want to give us penalties. It's their fault, not ours. We're suffering," said Courtney, who declined to give her last name.