ATLANTA, Feb. 22, 2007 (PRIME NEWSWIRE) -- Some 84,000 toll violating Georgians will have an opportunity to clear their consciences the next three months, but it will cost them a collective $6.5 million that they owe the state.
March is the beginning of a 90-day amnesty period declared by the State Road & Tollway Authority (SRTA) for Georgians who drove through the GA 400 toll plaza without paying the 50 cent toll.
Details of the amnesty program can be found on the SRTA web site -- www.georgiatolls.com or by calling 404.893.6161.
"In this case amnesty doesn't mean we are not going to collect money due the state," explains Rosa Rountree, Executive Director of SRTA. "It means that beginning March 1st we will give violators an opportunity to pay their tolls in full with penalties at a reduced administrative fee rate before taking harsher punitive measures."
According to Ms. Rountree, 84,105 drivers, many of whom have multiple violations, have failed to pay their tolls. These persons have been identified and notified that they owe the state money. A $25.00 administrative fee is added to each toll violation, bringing the exact amount owed the state to $6,519,165.70.
The amnesty period is only for violations which occurred prior to January 1, 2007, the date a state law changing the way that SRTA can enforce penalties for toll violations went into effect.
Ms. Rountree added, "Following the SRTA amnesty period those violators with multiple violations who do not pay the amount they owe by the end of the program will be referred to the Office of State Administrative Hearings (OSAH) where they will owe up to $70.00 per violation. Failure to pay will result in the loss of vehicle registration."
During the amnesty period SRTA will waive a portion of the $25.00 administrative fee due on an escalating scale depending on the number of violations:
* Nine or fewer violations: The amount due would be the full amount of the 50 cent tolls plus one-half of the total administrative fee. For example if a driver had four toll violations that person would owe $52.00. That includes four 50 cent tolls plus one-half of the $100.00 total administrative fees for four violations. * 10 - 24 violations: SRTA will accept 60 percent of the total administrative fee and the full amount of all unpaid tolls. * 25 or more violations: SRTA will accept 75 percent of the total administrative fee and the full amount of all unpaid tolls.
Ms. Rountree says the authority has no plans to extend the program beyond May 31, 2007 and that her agency will aggressively pursue outstanding violators.
Payments, which must be postmarked by May 31, 2007 may be made to SRTA by check or money order and sent to Post Office Box 2105, Atlanta, GA 30301-2105. Credit cards may be received over the phone with an additional $2 processing fee.
Upon expiration of the amnesty program, violators who did not pay will have to pay considerably more money and face the possible loss of their vehicle registration. SRTA will refer past-due accounts to collection agencies, and, for habitual violators, to the Office of State Administrative Hearings (OSAH) and then finally to the Department of Revenue (DOR). For those accounts referred to OSAH, the financial penalties will be up to $70.00 per violation. However, for those violators who choose not to heed the summons issued by OSAH, their case will be referred to DOR for vehicle registration suspension. Violators who need clarification may call 404.893.6161.