Turnpike owed $$$ in fast lane fines

CHICOPEE, Mass. (WWLP) - It's your money and we're watching it.

Massachusetts Turnpike drivers dodged a bullet recently when the Governor passed a sales take hike, instead of increasing the tolls.

22News dug up millions of dollars owed to the Massachusetts Turnpike that is not being collected.

About 1.2 million drivers in Massachusetts have Fast Lane transponders, but some 5 million Bay Staters are without one.

Each month there are 33,000 Fast Lane violators.

In 2008, there were almost three million dollars in fines collected.

Most people pay these turnpike tickets, because the Registry of Motor Vehicles gets a list.

Currently, there's 95,350 drivers in Massachusetts who will not be able to renew their license because they have not paid their Fast Lane fines.

If you pay your ticket on time, it's $50, plus a $5 administration fee and the cost of the toll.

But, once the RMV gets wind of your ticket after 60 days, that fee goes up to $90. Massachusetts is currently owed $8,581,500.00.

Approximately 12% of offenders are out-of-state. Those offenders are harder to go after, they are handled by the state police.

Those penalties are much steeper. They pay $300.00 to buzz through the fast lane transponder free.