People will have to pay the missed toll fee and the $20 fine. But they will not face any additional penalties. Those can include much higher fines and even suspension of a license.
The program ends on the June 30.
The tollway authority says it has 600,000 outstanding violations.
(PRESS RELEASE)ILLINOIS TOLLWAY LAUNCHES TOLL VIOLATION SPRING CLEANING PROGRAM
Toll violators offered one time opportunity to wipe away outstanding violation notices while fine escalation and suspension of driving privileges are put on hold
The Illinois Tollway today announced a one-time Toll Violation Spring Cleaning Program that will give drivers with violation notices the opportunity to pay outstanding missed tolls and accompanying $20 fines while additional penalties are put on hold over the next three months.
Effective March 26, the Toll Violation Spring Cleaning Program is available to any toll violator with notices dated prior to June 30, 2009. The program offers a limited-time opportunity to waive $50 fine escalations and defer license plate/driver's license suspensions - providing violators more time to come up with funds to resolve outstanding violation accounts before additional penalties are applied.
Fine escalation and suspension of driving privileges will apply if violators do not pay tolls, original $20 fines and any associated fees full before the June 30 program deadline. Participation in the program will not reduce the total amount of $20 fines or original tolls due to the Illinois Tollway.
"The Tollway recognizes today's tough economy is impacting everyone and this new Toll Violation Spring Cleaning Program can assist toll violators with an extended deadline to reconcile accounts without penalty," said Acting Executive Director Michael King. "At the same time the program is another demonstration of the Tollway's efforts to increase efficiency and improve accountability to its customers - especially the more than 90 percent of Tollway users who pay their tolls every day. We strongly encourage any driver with an outstanding toll violation notice to go online and take advantage of the Toll Violation Spring Cleaning Program before it ends."
The Tollway is offering easy and convenient online (www.illinoistollway.com) and phone (800-UC-IPASS) options with evening and weekend availability for violators who use a credit card to clear their slates and pay off their toll violation notices. Payments also will be accepted at any Illinois Tollway Customer Service Center during regular weekday business hours.
As of the end of March, about 600,000 outstanding violation notices would qualify to participate in the Toll Violation Spring Cleaning Program. Given the fact that the average outstanding violation notice includes 9 violation incidents - about $700 in fines - waiving the $50 fines would bring the amount owed back down to $200 plus tolls, providing incentive for people to participate.
Violation Enforcement Program
Illinois Tollway drivers should make sure they either have money to pay the tolls or an I-PASS or EZ-Pass transponder with money in their account. If you find yourself without exact change at an unmanned booth or accidentally drive through an Open Road Tolling or I-PASS lane without an I-PASS, you can pay a missed toll within seven days on the Tollway's Web site or by calling 1-800-UC-IPASS. Under the Illinois Tollway's Violation Enforcement Program, $20 fines are issued for every unpaid toll. Notices are sent to violators accumulating 3 or more toll violations over a two-year period. Violators have 21 days to either pay the fines or request a hearing to contest the violation notices. If notices or hearing findings are ignored, additional penalties can apply including increased fines by $50 to $70 per violation, suspension of license plates and driver's licenses, and referral to collection agencies.
About the Illinois Tollway
The Illinois Tollway maintains and operates 286 miles of interstate tollways in 12 counties in Northern Illinois, including the Reagan Memorial Tollway (I-88), Veterans Memorial Tollway (I-355), the Jane Addams Memorial Tollway (I-90) and the Tri-State Tollway (I-94, I-294, I-80). Get I-PASS & Get Going!
