NORFOLK, Va. — Those driving in North Carolina could face heftier toll bills under a new proposal from the state government.
The North Carolina Turnpike Authority (NCTA) is seeking the ability to raise processing fees for certain unpaid tolls from $6 to $9, a spokesperson confirmed to 13News Now.
According to the authority — the agency overseeing the state's toll facilities — the raise would help mitigate the impact of rising business costs, especially with labor and mailing. NCTA is seeking the change through North Carolina's state legislature.
"NCTA does not have any immediate plan to raise the processing fee from its current level but needs the ability to adjust fees to align with market conditions," NCTA Spokesperson Logen Hodges wrote in an e-mail to 13News Now.
Hodges added that processing fees aren't included on a customer’s initial invoice but on subsequent invoices when tolls aren't paid by the due date.
NC Quick Pass' website shows that processing fees accumulate on the second to fourth invoices before customers become subject to a DMV vehicle registration hold and their unpaid balances are sent to collections.
The change would affect the NCTA's two facilities: the Triangle Expressway serving the Research Triangle region and the Monroe Expressway outside Charlotte. Hodges said North Carolina express lanes will also be affected by the change.
According to Hodges, those facilities generated around $90.1 million in revenue for the Fiscal Year 2023, with $8.6 million from processing fees. But explaining that NCTA wants people to avoid processing fees, Hodges encouraged drivers to sign up for the NC Quick Pass.
"We offer a free transponder and a 35% discount on all tolls in NC for customers that open an NC Quick Pass account," Hodges wrote.
