Surprise! New York Calls Out Top Ten Worst Toll Evaders By Name

The Port Authority of New York and New Jersey recently announced that they recovered an astounding $25 million in unpaid tolls from toll evaders on local bridges, tunnels, and highways in 2023. In an even bolder move, they've gone as far as to list the top ten worst toll evaders of the past year by name.

It's surprising that tolls can even be evaded in 2024. With the decline of toll booths (both the New York State Thruway and all New York State bridges no longer have staffed booths) and the rise of systems that simply scan license plates of vehicles as they speed by, New York residents have become creative in the ways they avoid paying local tolls.

The Port Authority of New York and New Jersey announced the list of the the worst toll evaders in both states (google)

Toll Evaders in New York State

One of the most popular ways New Yorkers evaded tolls last year was with counterfeit or obstructed license plates. After all, license plate readers are useless if there isn't a legitimate license plate to read. Of 5,800 tickets issued related to toll evasion last year, the Port Authority revealed that 4,700 were for "missing or fictitious license plates". But who has racked up the largest toll bill?

The George Washington Bridge, which connects New York City and New Jersey, has one of the highest tolls in the nation (google)

The Port Authority's Top Ten List of Tolls Owed

Unsurprisingly, the first few names on the Port Authority's list are companies. With multi-vehicle fleets, amassing a large toll tab just seems more realistic. But while EM Padilla Trucking Corp led the list with $201,358.53 in unpaid tolls (followed by JRK Xpress Corp with $185,045.90 owed and Do 1 Do Right Services LLC owing $141,077.06), the next few names are individuals.

With No More Toll Booths, What's Happening to Hudson Valley Toll Collectors?

Garth and Maria Allegedly Owe Six-Figures

The Port Authority claims that Garth Vigil of Englewood, NJ, who came in fourth on their list, owes a staggering $135,867.70 in unpaid tolls, a dollar amount that equates to using the George Washington Bridge a whopping 7,706 times. They also report that Maria Rodriguez of Teaneck, NJ owes a nearly-identical $134,801.69. Maybe they should carpool?

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As a point of pride, only one New York company (New Generation Transport in the Bronx, NY) made the top ten list. Maybe because they know that even with recent increases, tolls on New York's roads and bridges are lower than they've ever been when inflation is taken into consideration. Check out the full list here, and see how many of New York's most dangerous roads you've driven below.