Maryland going after out-of-state toll violators

ANNAPOLIS, Md. (FOX 5 DC) - Starting tomorrow, Maryland will put into place a new law that will directly affect out of state drivers. It deals with tolls and how the state plans to collect those unsettled fines.

Maryland has some great vacationing spots. If you want to get to one, chances are you'll probably pass a toll or two. If you don't pay that toll it becomes a ticket. Now, the state has new measures in place to collect those fines.

The Maryland Transportation Authority says over 576,000 out-of-state drivers have outstanding tolls -- that equals a grand total of more than $102 million of uncollected funds.

The state plans to do something about this.

On Saturday, June 1, House Bill 105 goes into effect -- this bill allows the MTA to hire a private debt collection agency to collect the unpaid bills from out-of-state drivers.

Under this bill, the debt collection company will buy about $20 dollars of outstanding tolls upfront from the state. The company will also split a portion of out-of-state fine revenue moving forward.

It's a law that puts out-of-state drivers at odds with each other.

"I understand that they need to get their money but that's kind of ridiculous. That's an outrageous amount and affecting, like taking it to a debt collector can affect your credit. That just doesn't seem fair," said Pennsylvania resident Jessica Gavin.

"I was born and raised in Maryland, and I love Ocean City, but something like that when you're targeting out-of-state people, there's other places to go," said West Virginia resident Melleta Ingram.

"I'm happy they're going through a private debt collection agency. Hopefully, they can get these funds that the state of Maryland needs. Because they help the bridge out first of all. Help maybe the Chesapeake Bay out as well," said Virginia resident Peter Buchanan.

The current state-run method of collecting out of state fines have only yielded $1.3 million. This bill will generate millions more.