The effort to collect state Thruway tolls is kicking into high gear. One idea could keep those who don’t pay off of the nearly 570 miles of road in New York.

It’s an add-on to an act that could give the state Thruway Authority permission to boot your vehicle from the highway for a time, or even permanently.  

Repairs and upkeep for the New York State Thruway are paid for by collected tolls.

“The condition of the thruway is worse than it was a decade ago,” said Research Director at the Empire Center for Public Policy Ken Girardin.

Girardin weighed in on a recently proposed rule that would ban vehicles from the thruway for not paying or complying with Thruway Authority rules. He calls it a baby step.

“One of the problems in recent years is that they were just really late with electronic tolling,” Girardin said.

The state has made adjustments since launching cashless tolling in 2020, including passing the “Toll By Mail Enhancement Act,” which would help better notify drivers of outstanding toll payments.

It’s something drivers who did not decide to get the E-ZPass in the past four years have complained about.

“You also have the fact that New York has been slow to develop agreements with other states,” said Girardin.

And according to a 2023 state Comptroller's report, drivers from out of state made up for nearly half of the $276 million in tolls and fees owed to the Thruway Authority.

The proposed rule to ban evaders would be meant to address that too, which is gathering mixed reviews from thruway travelers.

“My thought is, they give you half of everything else away for free, why not just be able to drive on the highway for free? I mean, when they built this freeway, it was supposed to be paid for 20 years. No more tolls. How long has this thruway been here, and they’re still charging you to drive on it. And it goes up every year,” said thruway traveler Jim Scriven.

“I think everybody that drives the road should be paying a toll one way or the other, whether they have EZ Passes or not. I don't want to be paying a toll and have somebody else who doesn't have EZ Pass get off free. I mean, I think we should all pitch in and do our share. It seems only fair to me… pay your bills. I mean, that’s the way this country is supposed to work, pay your bills. I mean, I'm fine with that,” said a thruway traveler named Jeff.

“I think it's a great idea. Hold people accountable,” added thruway traveler Heather Rejman.

“I mean, you can't enforce that people can't get on or off the thruway. I mean, you'd have to use law enforcement or something like that to enforce it, which is a little excessive, in my opinion. But on top of that, they need to fix the scanners because as of right now, they don't pick up vehicles half the time,” said thruway traveler Bryan White.