Posted on 06/25/24
| News Source: WMAR2NEWS
Drivers are being told they can't register their cars because of toll flags.
Data from the Maryland Vehicle Administration shows toll flags jumped from around 100 to more than 12,000 in just 4 months. Now, more than 45,000 drivers are unable to register their vehicles without first clearing toll violations, which can sometimes amount to thousands of dollars.
“These are some 2021s, 2022s, I know I got 2024s somewhere,” said Tenia Steltz, as she sorted through various packets of toll notices.
Despite having an active Hatem Bridge pass, which costs her $20 a year for unlimited trips, Steltz said she’s being billed the video toll rate of $12 per trip whenever she crosses the bridge. And when she doesn't pay by the due date, she gets a civil penalty of $25 per toll, and it's been adding up.
“So far, I have paid $4,057 and some change [while] still owing $7,000 and I cannot get my car tags registration,” Steltz said.
And she's not the only one. Phil Blackiston, president of logistical marketing for Maryland Tag and Title Services, notifies customers on a daily basis that they too have toll flags and can't renew or register their vehicles.
“We've had customers with bills of over $3,000,” said Blackiston. “I guess 99 percent of the time, they're not aware of it. And they say, you know, I didn't know. I don't think I owe anything.”
WMAR-2 News Mallory Sofastaii requested data on how many drivers have toll flags. According to the MVA, there were only a handful of drivers between September 2021 and April 2023. For a portion of this time, the state offered a grace period for customers to get caught up on any tolls that had been delayed during the pandemic. However, that grace period ended December 2022.
Starting May 2023, numbers went up gradually to just under 100 drivers per month. In August 2023, it grew to nearly 2,000 drivers, more than doubled in September 2023, went up to nearly 10,000 in October 2023, and has hovered around 9,000-12,000 drivers each month through May 2024.
As of May 31, 46,474 Maryland drivers had outstanding toll flags.