Motorists with six or more toll violations or unpaid tolls of $500 or more on the Pennsylvania Turnpike are being given until early August to pay up or else the state will suspend their motor vehicle registration.

What we're wondering is why 10,611 of these drivers who owe $17.1 million have been able to get away with this flagrant disregard of the law for so long. This is outright theft and unfair to the thousands of law-abiding motorists who pay tolls.We are constantly mystified why state laws are flouted by a percentage of people who are hellbent on gaming the system. Could it be that our state officials are not tough enough? What is the purpose of having laws if some are willing to thumb their noses at them?At a time when our state finances are in shambles - we're looking at a potential budget deficit of more than $2 billion by June 30, 2018 - is it not imperative that every penny of every source of revenue, including fines and fees, be squeezed?Among the five counties in the Times News region, motorists have stiffed the state for nearly $1.4 million. Lehigh leads the list with $620,009, but the smallest county of the five - Carbon - is next with $336,651. After that come Northampton, $250,904; Monroe, $144,562; and Schuylkill, $44,592.Last year, the state General Assembly passed and Gov. Tom Wolf signed Act 165, which enables state officials to suspend a motor vehicle owner's registration if he or she has six or more unpaid toll violations or unpaid tolls totaling at least $500. This law goes into effect at the beginning of next month.To give these lawbreakers an incentive, the Turnpike Commission said it will waive additional fees if the fines are paid by Aug. 4. We wonder why they should be cut any kind of break. We believe it sends the wrong message.Most of the violators blow through the E-ZPass lanes. A camera snaps a photo of a vehicle's license plate, which triggers a demand-for-payment letter. The Turnpike Commission has relied on collection agencies to get toll violators to pay. With the threat of vehicle registration suspension, the state believes enforcement will be a lot easier.The Turnpike Commission and the Delaware River Joint Toll Bridge Commission, which regulates tolls on most of the bridges that connect Pennsylvania and New Jersey, are hoping to work out reciprocal agreements with out-of-state agencies. While none of these agreements is in place yet, state officials hope they will be soon, meaning that Pennsylvania can go after New Jersey violators and vice versa."Our customers pay tolls so we can keep our roadways safe and in good repair and meet our obligation to PennDOT to help fund mass-transit services statewide," Turnpike CEO Mark Compton said. "Now, those who are habitually taking a free ride - both private and commercial drivers - will have to stop doing that, or risk a suspension. It's simply not fair to those who do pay their fair share."As of late June, the commission said that the more than 10,000 turnpike drivers at risk of suspension were mailed a total of 280,855 violation notices and invoices, or more than 26 letters per person. (That's nearly $148,000 in postage.)"Letters explaining our partial amnesty plan were mailed to those at imminent risk of suspension," Compton said. "While repeat violators may have ignored multiple past attempts to collect outstanding tolls and penalties, this is a notice they should not ignore. Anyone with an outstanding toll bill or violation can take advantage of this month's partial-amnesty program, not just those at the highest levels of violation."The commission said that toll violations that are newer than 60 days can be settled by paying in full the outstanding toll amount; all other fees will be forgiven.Toll violations older than 60 days that have been referred to collection agencies may be settled by paying in full the outstanding toll amount and a portion of the outstanding fees.Drivers can visit PATurnpike.com/violationenforcement to learn more about the partial-amnesty program or check if they have unpaid Pennsylvania Turnpike toll violations. To pay now, call 877-PennPass (877-736-6727) from 8 a.m. to 7 p.m. weekdays.By Bruce Frassinelli |

tneditor@tnonline.com