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Maryland proposal cracks down on uncollected tolls

By WTOP Staff

Ari Ashe, wtop.com

WASHINGTON – Millions of dollars in unpaid tolls have gone uncollected in Maryland, but a new proposal being considered by the General Assembly aims to make it harder to dodge fees.

The proposal allows the Maryland Transportation Authority to go after those who don’t pay tolls.

“It would mean at the end of 30 days, if you don’t pay the toll, you will get a $50 citation,” Maryland Transportation Authority Executive Secretary Harold M. Bartlett says. “You can pay the citation, go to court or do neither, and we can institute other measures like suspending the registration on your car.”

Last year, The Washington Post reported nearly 650,000 vehicles owe about $6.7 million in unpaid tolls since 2007.

The problem is exacerbated with the Intercounty Connector (ICC), a toll road without toll plazas that only accepts E-ZPass. The ICC is the only all-electronic toll road in Maryland.

When someone on the ICC doesn’t have an E-ZPass, the Maryland Transportation Authority mails the driver a video toll (a still image of the vehicle’s license plate), which is 50 percent higher than the base rate.

If the driver doesn’t pay the fine in 30 days, a second bill is sent with a $25 fee. Thirty days later, another bill is sent, and so on.

If the driver still refuses to pay, the bill is sent to the Maryland Central Collection Unit. However, the collection agency does not report toll violators to the credit-rating agencies.

“Unfortunately, that means some of the other tools that were available to us, like suspension of registration, isn’t available to us currently,” Bartlett says.

The Motor Vehicle Administration hasn’t suspended a vehicle’s registration for tolls since 2010.

“No amount of money that goes uncollected is acceptable,” Bartlett says. “But what we’re talking about is four-tenths of 1 percent in annual toll revenue.”

Bartlett admits that as Maryland moves towards all-electronic tolling, like the ICC, the problem will get worse.

One of the biggest sources of unpaid tolls is rental cars. Nine rental car companies owe between $80,000 and $200,000 each, but the Transportation Authority is working with the individual companies to solve that problem.

“In many of these cases, the drivers aren’t scofflaws,” Bartlett says. “It’s just more difficult to track down who was using the rental car when the toll was assessed. But I have been speaking directly to these rental car companies.”

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(Copyright 2013 by WTOP. All Rights Reserved.)

Don’t Settle for Student Loans to Pay for Online Education

By WTOP Staff
Online college programs are becoming a more popular choice for prospective students, with one study finding that more than 6 million students enrolled in at least one online course in fall 2015. The popularity of these courses can be attributed in part to their flexibility with working adults' schedules, students' ability to progress more quickly through online programs and, oftentimes, cheaper tuition. [See 10 low-cost online bachelor's programs for out-of-state students.]Online degrees can be beneficial to many college students, but some studies have shown online learners complete their programs at lower rates than students at traditional brick-and-mortar campuses. Individuals with student loans but no degree comprise two-thirds of defaulted borrowers. Though these numbers are not encouraging, just like for traditional programs, there are ways to reduce how much you'll need to borrow for an online program to ensure you won't become one of these statistics. Don't just settle on borrowing student loans to cover the whole cost of your program and living expenses. Instead, start thinking about how to cut costs and cover your balance in different ways, such as the following. -- Grants and scholarships: Even though you are taking an online course, you can still apply and receive grants and scholarships. But your first step should be to complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid, commonly referred to as the FAFSA, which will allow you to receive a Pell Grant if your expected family contribution is low enough. The EFC criteria and award amounts are adjusted annually, but the 2017-2018 academic year awards range from $606 to $5,920, which could significantly lower the amount you borrow annually. Your next step is to apply for scholarships. You can start by checking online scholarship search engines, such as the Salt Scholarship Search, College Board's BigFuture and Peterson's. But don't forget to take advantage of local organizations and your school's financial aid office. Both may offer scholarships that you can't find with a national scholarship search. [Review these 10 sites to kick off your scholarship search.]For instance, organizations like the Elks Club, Knights of Columbus or the Rotary Club typically offer scholarships annually to local students. Just because you're going to school online doesn't mean you're ineligible. Visit your local library for scholarship listings, and ask around town. You might be surprised how many local organizations offer scholarships. While these scholarships typically aren't large, every little bit counts. Each dollar you receive in a scholarship is a dollar you don't have to borrow and pay interest on. -- Work-study: Another option for online students may be work-study awards. Not all students enrolled in online programs are eligible, but students at some schools -- including, for example, SUNY Empire State College and Liberty University -- are. Work-study awards are not given upfront like scholarships and grants. In most cases, they are an offer to earn up to the awarded amount if you secure an eligible work-study job. While there is a misconception that all work-study jobs must be on campus, students can work for off-campus, nonprofit or public employers as long as the work is in the public's interest. You may be able to work for a for-profit employer if the job is relevant to your course of study. No matter who the outside employer is, it will need to have an established agreement with your college for you to receive work-study funds. Remember, to be eligible for federal financial aid, you must be enrolled and pursuing a degree or certificate. If you're not working toward a credential, Pell Grants and work-study won't be option, but you may still be able to take advantage of private scholarships -- just be sure to read the eligibility criteria carefully. [Explore what to know about financial aid in online programs.]-- Pay as you go: One of the great benefits to enrolling online is the flexible schedule, which can allow you to complete your college coursework around your responsibilities. But prospective students often overlook using their part- or full-time job earnings as an option for paying for college. Almost 80 percent of college students in 2015 worked at least part time while attending classes, according to the National Center for Education Statistics. By budgeting and thinking strategically about your college costs, you can likely reduce your dependence on student loans by paying a portion out of pocket. Many -- but not all -- online programs are less expensive than traditional programs and often have shorter payment periods. Six, eight or 10 weeks are common course durations. Because of the frequency of payments in an online setting, you may be well-placed to pay as you go and possibly avoid borrowing altogether. Attending college online and avoiding student loans may be challenging, but if you are willing to put in the effort, you can limit the amount you need to borrow. More from U.S. News Q&A: Understanding Student Loan Discharge Eligibility Student Loan Refinancing Isn't Right for All Borrowers
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