WFLA

Deadline approaching for drivers to pay overdue SunPass bills

Florida’s SunPass toll payment system went down in June of 2018 and resulted in chaos.

The system was extremely overwhelmed and couldn’t process transactions. But, things are fixed.

Now, if a driver has a balance due on an account after March 1, any tolls incurred after that date will be charged at the highter toll-by-plate rate, the Department of Transportation reports.

The department will continue to waive late fees associated with any remaining balance due until March 31.

8 On Your Side learned a South Florida driver cut her $1,500 bill to a mere $76.For months, Vicki Tate said she was charged the toll-by-plate rate, which is higer, even though her car is equipped with a transponder.

She called the Department of Transportation and the Office of Gov. Ron DeSantis, and then, things were fixed.

“They had to back-date the plate to prove that we really were SunPass holders,” Tate said.  “That took the huge charges that were $16, $17, what should have been 44 cents or a $1.28, or whatever the small amount was,” she said.

The SunPass customer service phone lines are busier than normal as people deal with bills and fees, a spokesperson said.