The Albany Times-Union reported Sunday that motorists have bilked $3.4 million in free rides on the New York State Thruway

over the last five years. The drivers simply drive through E-ZPass toll lanes. According to the paper, trucking companies have been among the worst abusers.
“The list of top 10 toll evaders compiled by the authority consists entirely of commercial customers such as trucking companies,” the Times-Union said. “At the top is American Tissue Inc., a bankrupt Long Island papermaker and distributor that once had local operations in Greenwich and Halfmoon. Its unpaid toll bill is $14,144, and the company owes another $37,875 in fees.”
However, many individuals may have ripped off the toll road. The Times-Union noted a Schenectady man who owes $3,541 in tolls for more than 700 free road trips recorded by his E-ZPass tag. He racked up another $1,930 in unpaid tolls for 229 trips after his account was revoked.
During the same five year period, the paper reported, the Thruway Authority failed to collect $19.9 million in fines, what the authority calls administrative fees, imposed on the more than 400,000 motorists and E-ZPass holders who owe tolls.
The paper said the Thruway Authority provided the information in response to a request under New York's Freedom of Information Law.
The Thruway collects more than $430 million a year from tolls.