WSDOT's new toll program dismisses 125,000 violations; those who paid earlier out of luck



SEATTLE (AP) — Since the state debuted a new toll-enforcement program in July, the Washington State Department of Transportation says it has dismissed 125,000 violations on 9,500 vehicles.

As of August 31, drivers who owed the state civil penalties for unpaid tolls and who contacted the agency's customer service have saved about $4.4 million in penalties.

The Seattle Times says (http://is.gd/3QN09X ) people who waited to pay their civil penalties are catching a break while those who paid earlier are stuck with their losses.

The state isn't offering refunds, except for those who lost a toll-court case this year between Feb. 19 and July 20. So some drivers who previously paid are grumbling, and a class-action lawsuit against WSDOT has been filed on their behalf, demanding their money be given back.

The state's toll-operations director, Patty Rubstello says the state needed to set some kind of cutoff period.