ANNAPOLIS, Md. (7News) — Maryland is owed more than $818 million in unpaid tolls and penalties from out-of-state vehicles, according to a state audit that found the Maryland Transportation Authority did not take some available steps to pursue the debt.
The audit found that, as of January, out-of-state vehicles had accumulated approximately $230.9 million in unpaid tolls and another $587.2 million in penalties.
More than $386 million of that debt had been outstanding for more than three years.
Virginia drivers accounted for the largest share of the unpaid tolls and penalties at approximately $234.7 million, followed by drivers from Pennsylvania and New Jersey.
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The audit also questioned MDTA’s efforts to collect money owed by drivers whose vehicles are registered outside Maryland.
Among the options identified were using private collection agencies and establishing reciprocal agreements with other states that could help Maryland pursue unpaid tolls and penalties across state lines.
David Williams, president of the Taxpayers Protection Alliance, said the amount of money at stake is significant for Maryland.
“This is a lot of money, this is money that the state absolutely needs. The transportation trust fund, needs it, the state needs it,” Williams said.
Williams also said the issue goes beyond the money itself.
“I think there’s really two things here, the financial aspect and also the message that if you drive through Maryland, don’t pay your fines. You are not going to be sought after so it’s bad on both ends,” Williams said.
MDTA’s toll revenues help fund the operation, maintenance and improvement of its toll facilities, as well as debt service.
MDTA said it is now working to bring in collection agencies to help recover some of the outstanding money. It remains unclear how much of the $818.1 million the state ultimately will be able to collect.
Why doesn’t Maryland have agreements with other states?
Maryland does have collection tools for drivers who owe money in the state. Those can include measures such as intercepting Maryland state tax refunds.
But collecting from out-of-state drivers can be more complicated because states have different laws, penalties and tolling systems.
The audit’s findings raise questions about whether Maryland could have done more to pursue drivers from other states — particularly as the amount of unpaid tolls and penalties continued to grow.
For now, MDTA is pursuing additional collection efforts, but the state’s ability to recover the full amount remains uncertain.
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