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Assembly bars credit reporting of late cashless toll payments; debate centers on agency accountability
Summary
Lawmakers passed A3055 to prohibit reporting late cashless toll payments to consumer reporting agencies, aiming to protect consumers hit by delayed bills or misassigned tolls; supporters stressed consumer protection, while critics urged holding toll authorities and E‑ZPass accountable for timely billing.
The Assembly passed A3055 on May 6 to prohibit consumer reporting agencies from including late payments for cashless tolls in consumer credit reports.
Sponsor Mister R. Carroll said the measure responds to constituent complaints of late or erroneous toll notices that triggered large fines and credit damage. "We're trying to make sure that New Yorkers... do not have their credit report destroyed by credit agencies and debt collectors," Carroll said, describing constituent cases where late notices compounded into large penalties.
Members across the chamber questioned whether the bill merely treats a symptom rather than the root causes: delayed or inaccurate billing by tolling systems and E‑ZPass administration. Several members, including Mister Durso and Mister Pierzolo, urged additional oversight of the Thruway Authority, MTA or E‑ZPass operations rather than relying solely on consumer protections. "Why aren't we holding the authorities accountable as opposed to saying it's gonna affect your creditworthiness?" one member asked.
Supporters responded that the bill is a narrow consumer‑protection step to prevent immediate harms while other oversight work proceeds. Miss Lunsford, who voted for the bill, said it will give residents "more time to address these issues of truly erroneous tolls that have been... sent to people who were nowhere near where the toll was collected." Members described high volumes of constituent calls and cases where license plates were misread, producing large retroactive bills.
The Assembly recorded the vote and the bill passed (recorded Ayes 120, Nays 20 in debate remarks). Sponsors said the bill does not alter fines or DMV penalties and that future legislation could pursue stricter oversight of authorities or changes to fine structures.
The floor debate included detailed Q&A about who sends notices, the role of E‑ZPass as an operator, and whether debt collectors and credit agencies report these charges. Several members urged follow‑up legislation to require clearer billing, more timely notices and avenues for consumers to contest erroneous charges before they reach collections.
