Toll Tickets Lawyer: Defend Against Toll Violations Effectively

Florida’s toll violation systems are designed to ensure compliance with toll payments on the state’s extensive network of toll roads, which are managed by multiple agencies, including Florida’s Turnpike Enterprise, the Central Florida Expressway Authority (CFX), and the Tampa Hillsborough Expressway Authority. These systems rely on electronic tolling methods, such as SunPass, E-PASS, and Toll-by-Plate, with enforcement options including traffic tickets for non-payment of tolls.

How Tolls Are Collected

Florida’s toll roads primarily use electronic systems such as SunPass or E-PASS transponders, which automatically deduct tolls from a prepaid account when a vehicle passes through a toll plaza. These transponders work seamlessly across Florida, Georgia, and North Carolina, offering convenience and discounted rates compared to other methods.

For drivers without transponders, the Toll-by-Plate system captures an image of your vehicle’s license plate and mails a Toll Enforcement Invoice to the registered owner, which includes the toll amount plus a $2.50 administrative fee. Cash payments are accepted on some roads, but many toll stations are transitioning to cashless systems, relying entirely on electronic methods. Drivers must ensure their transponder accounts are funded or pay invoices promptly to avoid traffic violations.

Violations and Enforcement

A toll violation occurs if you fail to pay a toll at the time of travel, either by not having a transponder, insufficient funds in your account, or not paying a Toll-by-Plate invoice within 30 days. Cameras at toll points capture images of license plates to identify violators.

For example, using managed lanes without a valid transponder can result in a $25 daily violation charge, in addition to the toll and administrative fees. The Florida Department of Transportation and toll agencies enforce compliance, with the Florida Highway Patrol patrolling certain facilities, such as the 95 Express, to issue citations for violations. Failure to pay after receiving a second invoice may result in referral to a collections agency, additional fees, or a Vehicle Registration Stop, which will prevent you from renewing your vehiclecle registration.

Non-Payment Consequences

Toll violations in Florida are classified as non-criminal traffic infractions but have been treated as moving violations since recent statutory changes, which can potentially add points to your driver’s license, increase insurance costs, or lead to license suspension if unpaid. If you ignore invoices, agencies may issue a Uniform Traffic Citation, and unpaid violations can block vehicle registration renewals.

For instance, Osceola and Orange County Tax Collector offices require all toll violations to be cleared before renewing tags or licenses. Drivers can dispute violations, but this typically involves attending court. Paying a fine without contesting it may be seen as an admission of guilt, which could potentially affect one’s driving record. You should consider hiring a traffic ticket lawyer to handle disputes and potentially reduce fines or avoid points.

Disputing Violations

Drivers who receive erroneous toll invoices due to issues such as inaccurate license plate readings or someone else using their vehicle can dispute them by contacting the toll agency that issued the invoice. For example, SunPass customers can call 1-888-TOLL-FLA to resolve issues like duplicate charges. If the car was not in the owner’s control, submitting an affidavit or form HSMV 90510 can shift liability.

To avoid violations, return unused or expired license plates to the state, as plates remain linked to the owner until they are officially surrendered. SunPass and E-PASS users must keep account information updated, including license plates and payment methods, to prevent misidentification as violators.

Every toll violation ticket is unique. Our Ticket Fighter attorneys will build your defense by following these steps:

Review the Toll Violation Citation

Our traffic ticket attorneys will review the toll violation notice and related evidence to identify errors or inconsistencies. In Florida, toll violations often result from issues such as unpaid tolls, malfunctioning transponders, or incorrect vehicle registration information.

The Ticket Fighter will examine your citation for procedural mistakes, such as incomplete officer documentation, incorrect license plate information, or failure to provide timely notification within 14 days, as required by law.

For example, if your toll violation notice lacks specific details about the alleged infraction or was mailed to an outdated address, we can argue for dismissal based on improper procedure. This initial analysis is critical to pinpointing weaknesses in the state’s case against you.

Investigate the Evidence and Circumstances

Next, we will investigate the circumstances surrounding the violation to build a tailored defense. This may involve gathering evidence, such as SunPass or E-Pass account records, proof of payment, or documentation of transponder issues, including dead batteries or incorrect mounting.

Since toll violations are issued to the vehicle’s registered owner, not necessarily the driver, our South Florida lawyer may argue that you were not operating the vehicle at the time or that the violation resulted from a clerical error, like a mismatched license plate.

For instance, if your SunPass account had insufficient funds or an incorrect address, our experienced attorneys can negotiate with toll agencies to resolve the issue without court penalties.

Develop a Customized Legal Strategy

Our Sunpass violations attorney will craft a legal strategy to contest the violation in court, if necessary. We may challenge the evidence, such as the accuracy of traffic cameras or the calibration of toll equipment, to weaken the prosecution’s case.

Common defenses include proving the violation was unintentional, disputing the equipment’s reliability, or highlighting procedural errors. Our Miami-Dade County defense attorney may negotiate with prosecutors to reduce the charge to a non-moving violation, thereby avoiding points and minimizing fines.

Finally, our Broward County defense lawyer can represent you in court, ensuring you don’t need to appear personally, which saves time and reduces stress. The Ticket Fighter handles all court appearances and filings, keeping you informed through regular updates. If the case isn’t dismissed, our lawyer may negotiate a plea deal to avoid points or attend traffic school.