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Bill would let international-bridge operators partner with secretary of state for electronic tolling
Summary
House Bill 4809 would let international-bridge operators enter an agreement with the Michigan Secretary of State to pursue electronic toll collection and invoicing, a change sponsors say would reduce truck idling and improve safety; the Department of State testified it has no formal position while describing needed customer safeguards and implementation costs.
House Bill 4809, introduced in the House Transportation Infrastructure Committee, would authorize operators of international vehicle crossings to enter into an agreement with the Michigan Secretary of State to support electronic toll collection and enforcement.
Representative Brian Postmas, the bill sponsor, told the committee the proposal is aimed at improving efficiency at international border crossings. "It allows people managing international bridges . . . to enter into an agreement with the secretary of state . . . to allow for electronic tracking on that, paying tolls electronically," he said.
Ken Dobson, vice president of the Ambassador Bridge Company, said the Ambassador Bridge is the busiest border crossing in North America and estimated the facility processes about 4,000 cars and 8,000–10,000 trucks daily. Dobson and operations representative Randy Spader said electronic tolling would cut truck idling, reduce traffic on-site and improve safety by allowing most vehicles to pass without stopping for manual payment.
Committee members pressed witnesses on several issues. Representative Brock asked why the state should assist a private company in collecting unpaid tolls; members also raised whether out-of-state and Canadian license plates would be pursued and whether cash or card payments would remain available. Witnesses and the sponsor said cash or card options would still be available and that many states use reciprocity or toll-by-plate approaches for enforcement.
Aaron Shore of the Michigan Department of State testified he had no formal position on the bill but described prior departmental opposition and the policy choices facing the Legislature. Shore said department staff have held detailed conversations with the bridge operator and emphasized the need for customer safeguards, including clear notice to motorists and an appeals process for situations such as stolen vehicles. He also said there would be some upfront state implementation costs and that details on cost recovery and any service fees would be worked out in an operating agreement and rulemaking process.
Members cited an initial implementation estimate mentioned in testimony of roughly $300,000 for startup and initial processing, but MDOS did not confirm a finalized cost figure during the hearing and said the department would need to develop staffing and notice procedures before fees in the statute could defray expenses.
No committee vote on House Bill 4809 was recorded during the hearing. Committee members indicated questions remain about enforcement mechanics, cross-jurisdictional data sharing for out-of-state and foreign plates, and the structure of customer protections and appeals that MDOS and operators would include in any implementing agreement.
