Out-of-state motorists who dodge tolls across New York bridges and tunnels are frequently the same drivers committing dangerous traffic infractions, including speeding, running red lights, and causing serious crashes throughout the five boroughs, according to legal reviews and court filings made public in February 2026.
Port Authority Lawsuits Target Interstate Toll Evaders
The Port Authority of New York and New Jersey operates six bridges and tunnels connecting the two states. In February 2026, the agency filed 17 large lawsuits in New York Supreme Court against six drivers and 11 companies, accusing defendants of “toll evaders” who committed “multiple trespasses” and “theft through fraud.” These legal actions target individuals and commercial entities that owe more than $10,000 in unpaid tolls and tens of thousands more in fees. The Port Authority transitioned to cashless tolling in 2022, requiring drivers to either mount an E-ZPass transponder for discounted rates or pay full-price invoices sent via mail to captured license plates. According to the agency, the defendants in these lawsuits repeatedly drove through toll booths without valid E-ZPass accounts and ignored mailed billing notices, leaving a total of $1.5 million in unpaid tolls and fees.
Did You Know? The Port Authority of New York and New Jersey noted in court filings that its police force has the authority to arrest toll evaders on sight and without a warrant, though the agency stated it avoids doing so for safety reasons and to prevent disruptions for compliant E-ZPass users.
Commercial Trucking Violations and Pedestrian Safety Risks
Driving records analyzed alongside the lawsuits reveal severe safety hazards tied to commercial fleets. JGM Trucking of Parsippany accumulated more than $143,000 in unpaid Port Authority tolls after passing through E-ZPass lanes without paying and ignoring at least 1,966 mailed invoices since 2020. Within New York City, drivers for the company collected 94 speeding tickets and 52 red-light tickets over the same period, accumulating over $15,000 in municipal fines. Federal Department of Transportation filings show that JGM transports stone and asphalt, loose cargo that shifts a truck’s center of gravity and increases hazards during sudden speed or directional changes.
Court papers detail that a JGM dump truck driver, Andres Ocampo, was involved in two separate crashes in the city. One crash involved hitting another motorist, while the second involved crushing a pedestrian in a crosswalk on Ninth Avenue in 2021. The pedestrian, Robert Fox, spent a week in the hospital with a destroyed ankle and pelvis, requiring physical rehabilitation to learn how to walk again. Jonas Mieres, a representative for JGM Trucking, expressed shock at the toll evasion accusations in an email, stating the company constantly replenishes its E-ZPass account and has no record of New York City traffic tickets, though follow-up inquiries went unanswered.
Widespread Traffic Violations Among Out-of-State Scofflaws
An analysis of 204 vehicles connected to the Port Authority lawsuits showed that 155 of them accumulated significant municipal parking and camera violations. These vehicles racked up more than 460 speeding tickets and 100 red-light tickets, leaving roughly $92,000 in fully adjudicated judgments owed to the city. Yannette Short, a resident of New Jersey, owes the bi-state agency over $16,000 in unpaid tolls. Municipal data indicates Short qualified as a super-speeder twice, receiving 30 speeding tickets in a Mercedes-Benz in 2022 and 26 speeding tickets in a Lexus the following year, alongside roughly $11,000 in unpaid city speeding, red-light, and parking tickets mostly issued in The Bronx.
Similarly, Pennsylvania resident Joseph Rodriguez skipped out on more than $26,000 in unpaid tolls across a fleet of 28 passenger vehicles and one truck. Court and city records show drivers operating Rodriguez’s vehicles collected 172 speeding tickets, 22 red-light tickets, and more than 120 parking tickets—primarily in Queens and The Bronx—resulting in nearly $34,000 in unpaid municipal fines. City Department of Transportation spokesman Vincent Barone stated that recidivist drivers endangering school zones are also flouting other laws.
Enforcement Challenges and Proposed Policy Solutions
Safety advocates and local officials are pressing for stronger measures to address persistent out-of-state scofflaws. Danny Pearlstein of the Riders Alliance called on Mayor Mamdani to unite government agencies to resolve the issue, suggesting the city restrict street parking to vehicles displaying valid New York front and back license plates. A state law passed earlier this year allows New York City to mandate speed limiters for vehicles accumulating 16 or more speed or red-light violations within a 12-month period. However, because only two of the 204 vehicles identified in the Port Authority lawsuits are registered in New York, state and local officials note that jurisdiction remains a hurdle for out-of-state violators.
State agencies maintain administrative roles in handling motorist credentials. Walter McClure, a spokesperson for the New York State Department of Motor Vehicles, stated that the DMV lacks jurisdiction over toll bills and parking tickets but can suspend vehicle registrations when directed by a tolling authority. William Connolly, a spokesperson for the New Jersey Motor Vehicle Commission, described his agency’s role as administrative, noting that the MVC takes required actions on licenses or registrations once a violation is adjudicated and transferred, though he did not respond to inquiries regarding the 81 New Jersey license plates identified in the Port Authority litigation.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: How much do the defendants in the Port Authority lawsuits collectively owe in unpaid tolls and fees?
A: The Port Authority stated that the lawbreakers collectively owe $1.5 million in lost revenue and fees.
Q: When did the Port Authority implement cashless tolling?
A: The Port Authority switched to cashless tolling in 2022.
Q: How many vehicles identified in the lawsuits were registered in New York?
A: Only two of the 204 vehicles identified in the Port Authority lawsuits are registered in New York.
What steps should local and state authorities take next to address out-of-state drivers who repeatedly accumulate unpaid tolls and traffic fines in New York City?
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