Delaware toll authorities and police are combining to hit habitual toll evaders with theft of services, a felony charge that can bring arrest and more drastic penalties than the normal traffic offense.

A press release from DRBA (who run the Delaware Memorial Bridge), Delaware state police, Delaware DOJ, and DelDOT says that the four agencies are now working closely on a campaign targeting heavy toll violators, sharing license plate number and pictures of vehicles in order to target them better.

Since Feb 22 they have been assessing all violators owing $1,000 for suitability for theft of services felony charges.

They give an example:

"On January 26, 2007, John Harper, 39, of Irvington, New Jersey, was arrested and charged with 136 counts of toll evasion at the Delaware Memorial Bridge. After being arraigned, Harper was briefly committed to Young Correctional Facility prior to posting $2,720 in bail. Harper is scheduled for trial in June. If found guilty, Harper will owe the DRBA $5,440 in toll fees as well as civil costs associated with these charges, in addition to any penalties imposed by the court.

"On February 22, 2007, the DSP subsequently arrested and charged Harper with another 200 counts of toll evasion at the I-95 toll facility in Newark, Del. He was charged with felony theft of services. If found guilty, Harper will owe the State of Delaware $10,571 in toll fees as well as civil costs associated with these charges, in addition to any penalties imposed by the court."

P J Wilkins toll operations manager for DelDOT says the program aims to improve enforcement and limit revenue losses.

COMMENT: A Maryland official tells us a major weakness in toll enforcement in the northeast and mid-Atlantic is the lack of cooperation of this kind across state lines.

TOLLROADSnews 2007-03-07