The state Senate has approved a measure that would facilitate the Ohio Turnpike’s planned transition in spring of 2023 to an open road tolling system.

The new system, which is expected to rely heavily on E-ZPass and cashless tolling, will require a means to collect tolls from non-subscribing motorists, those who only carry cash or those who simply skip the toll.

Senate Bill 162 was devised to address these circumstances and others associated with the modernization effort.

“The (Turnpike and Infrastructure) Commission’s current tolling collection system is approaching the end of its useful life, and is in need of an upgrade,” said Sen. William Reineke, R-Tiffin and sponsor of the bill. “In a survey of 14,000 customers conducted by the commission, 89 percent supported the removal of toll gates in favor of electronic tolling.”

More specifically, the bill would authorize the commission to develop rules regarding procedures for individuals who evade a toll or a toll-related fee and for the disclosure of personal information.

SB 162 additionally authorizes the commission to notify the registrar of motor vehicles in the event of either of the following:

• A person fails to remit payment of a toll or fee or fails to dispute an invoice within 60 days after the issuance of the second invoice, in accordance with the Commission’s rules; or
• A person fails to pay any remaining balance due after appeal to the Cuyahoga County Court of Common Pleas.

According to Ohio Legislative Service Commission analysis of the bill, the registrar or a deputy registrar must deny any application for motor vehicle registration or transfer of registration from the person who is subject of the notice once the commission notifies the registrar.

“Only after the registrar receives notice from the commission that the debt is paid may the registrar accept an application for registration,” attorney Margaret Marcy wrote for the OLSC.

“This moves Ohio ahead in terms of being an easy-to-access state,” Reineke said.

In proponent testimony to the Senate Transportation Committee Turnpike and Infrastructure Commission, Executive Director Ferzan Ahmed described how the new system would function.

“Customers with an E-ZPass transponder will be able to drive all the way from Pennsylvania to Indiana and vice-versa without having to stop,” Ahmed noted. “People entering and exiting the turnpike in between will have the option to slowly enter and exit without stopping.”

Motorists without an E-ZPass will have the options of either taking a ticket and paying by cash or credit card or by using the E-ZPass lane in which their license plate number would be recorded for subsequent billing, he explained.

“The reason we chose this system instead of all-electronic tolling is because approximately 65 percent of our customers currently use E-ZPass, which means there is the potential for us to bill 35 percent of customers,” Ahmed concluded.

Reinke stressed the importance of the tolling system’s ease of use.

“As you roll through Pennsylvania or Pittsburgh, you can stop at some of the rest stops in some of these smaller counties in Ohio,” he said. “These rest stops are huge sales-tax collectors for these areas.”

SB 162 enjoys the support of the Ohio Trucking Association.

Association President and CEO Tom Balzer said any delays on a turnpike or freeway hurt the bottom line of his industry.

“Time is money in our business, we often say if the wheels aren’t turning you aren’t making money,” he told lawmakers. “For many drivers, having to slow down for a tolling booth is an inconvenience; for us it has an economic impact.”

The bill, which cleared the Senate by a unanimous vote, has not yet been taken up by the Ohio House of Representatives.