Violation FAQs

What are the scenarios in which you can receive a violation?

1. Toll Evasion: When you drive through an E-ZPass only lane without a transponder in the vehicle.

2. Insufficient Funds: When your account balance is negative and you travel through an E-ZPass only lane.

3. Credit Card Cancellation or Expiration: Your credit card company or banking institution has not approved the transaction. The cancellation or expiration of a credit card can happen for many reasons. Once the credit card has been cancelled, or we do not have a valid expiration date in our system, we cannot debit your account. When the E- ZPass account balance becomes negative, all transactions will result in violations both at RITBA and away agency toll facilities. Many customers opt to list a secondary credit card on the E-ZPass account to have as a backup in case the primary credit card fails. To update your credit card information, login to your account, go to “Add/Update Credit Card” on the menu on the left.

You also need to contact the Customer Service Center at 1-877-743-9727 to make sure all open violations are resolved. Changing your credit card on the website for automatic replenishment will take care of future recurring payments, but will not take care of any outstanding violation notices. Payments to your E-ZPass account can take up to 48 hours before your transponder is able to be used for travel.

When your credit card information changes, you are responsible for updating this information on your account. Two common changes that occur are when you or your bank cancels a credit card or the credit card expires.

When a credit card is cancelled, for any reason, customers are responsible for providing the new credit card information for their account, or changing the method for replenishment of their account.

When a credit card expires, and the credit card is reissued with the same card number, the customer must update the expiration date information on their E-ZPass account.

When the credit card information is the same as what was listed on your E-ZPass account, and the transaction was not approved by your bank, you must contact your credit card company or banking institution for more information. Transactions not being approved can occur for a variety of reasons; most commonly the balance in the bank account is not sufficient to cover the replenishment amount.

4. E-ZPass Transponder Not Properly Mounted or Installed Incorrectly: Your interior transponder must be affixed to windshield with the arrows pointing up as shown here. Exterior transponders must be mounted on the top part of your front license plate as shown here. Transponder holding and waving can result in a non-read and a possible Toll Violation Notice, and is a violation of the RITBA E-ZPass Customer Agreement Terms and Conditions.

5. Inactive Transponder: The transponder in the vehicle has been reported as lost or stolen. Lost and stolen transponders will not read at any toll facility. Transponders will not work on the same day they are purchased; they will be active in Rhode Island in 24 hours and active out of state in 48 hours.

6. Transponder Malfunction: You may stop at the walk-in center located at 1 East Shore Road, Jamestown, RI 02835 and have your transponder battery tested.

7. Vehicle Type: The vehicles listed here may be equipped with special windshields that contain metal in the glass (metal oxide) that prevents an interior E-ZPass transponder from being read properly. Windshields with solar ray glass, solar tint, heated or heat reflective windshields may also prevent the E-ZPass from reading properly. Customers with these windshields may need to obtain exterior transponders. If you are unsure about whether your vehicle has one of these windshields, contact the dealer where you purchased your car or the car manufacturer.

8. Plate Type: All Rhode Island E-ZPass account holders that have vehicles registered in Rhode Island, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, and Maine must have the correct plate type included on their accounts. Plate types are very important in allowing the Customer Service Center to identify our customers when their transponder doesn't register when they go through the toll plaza. Plate type is significant because the Rhode Island Division of Motor Vehicles issues the same plate number to a variety of different license plate types. Please be sure you have selected the correct plate type as noted on your vehicle registration to avoid a possible Toll Violation Notice.

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I went through an Open Road Tolling Lane and I don't have an E-ZPass account, what should I do?

At this point, you are unable to pay the toll until it has been through our image review process. Please contact customer service 72 hours after occurrence to check the status of the transaction. We will accept payment of the violation over the phone or online before a first notice is mailed out or received.

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I went through an E-ZPass lane in a rental vehicle, what should I do?

At this point, you are unable to pay the toll until it has been through our image review process. Please contact customer service 72 hours after the occurrence to check the status of the transaction.

Customers with rental vehicles should check with the rental company regarding their toll policy and payment options before traveling on the Newport Pell Bridge. Each rental company has a different policy for the payment of tolls.

Many rental companies have transponders in their vehicles, you may be assessed a fee plus the toll rate when you use their transponders. If you go through an E-ZPass only lane with no transponder, it may post to the rental agency’s E-ZPass account by the license plate and you may be assessed a fee plus the toll rate from the rental company.

If a Toll Violation Notice is mailed to the rental company, many of the rental companies will pay the violations and then forward the customer a bill for the violation amount and possibly extra fees; see terms in your rental agreement for more details. Some rental companies will forward RITBA a “transfer of liability” to change the violation responsibility from their name to the rental customer’s name. Fees assessed by rental companies are not fees distributed by RITBA.

Non E-ZPass Account Holders: Rental agencies can assess fees for mailed violations and toll transactions that post to their accounts.

E-ZPass Account Holders: You should always list rental vehicles on your account and delete them from your account when you are done using the vehicle. If you are using your own E-ZPass transponder in the rental vehicle, it must be mounted and the license plate listed on your account.

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I received a Toll Violation Notice, what should I do?

The toll violation notice contains a lower portion that should be detached and mailed along with your payment. If you have any questions, please call customer service at 1-877-743-9727.

Rhode Island E-ZPass Account Holders: You may have received this notice if your account and/or transponder (s) is invalid or not up to date with all current vehicle information. Call 1-877-743-9727 and a representative will assist you in updating your information.

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How do I pay a toll violation?

1. Pay with a major credit card by phone at 1-877-743-9727. The call center hours are
Monday-Friday 9:00am-5:00pm

2. Pay using our secure internet site at https://www.ezpassritba.com/Violation

3. To pay by mail, return the bottom portion of the Toll Violation Notice with your payment. Make check or money order payable to RITBA. Write toll violation number(s) on the front of your check or money order, and mail to:

4. Payment can be made in person at the RITBA Customer Service Center Monday, Wednesday and Friday 9:00am-1:00pm located at:

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Who do I contact if I receive a Toll Violation Notice?

Rhode Island E-ZPass Account Holders: Call Customer Service at 1-877-743-9727 or stop at the Customer Service Center and a representative will assist you in updating your information. Please have your E-ZPass account number, 4-digit PIN number, invoice number, and license plate available when you call or visit the office.

Away Agency E-ZPass Account Holders: You will have to contact the agency in which you opened your E-ZPass account to make sure your account balance is not negative, your vehicle information is up to date, and verify your transponder is active. Click here for a list of participating E-ZPass agencies. Once you have verified your account information, you should contact RITBA Customer Service at 1-877-743-9727.

Non E-ZPass Account Holder: Call Customer Service at 1-877-743-9727 or stop at the Customer Service Center to pay your violation(s).

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I have an existing E-ZPass account, but I received a toll invoice in the mail. What should I do?

If you received a toll invoice in the mail but have an existing E-ZPass account, you should first login to your account online or contact your home agency to ensure that the information on your account is valid and up to date.

Some reasons invoices generate include: (1) insufficient funds/invalid payment method (2) status of the transponder device, etc. (3) the vehicle being driven is not properly listed on the E-ZPass account.

After ensuring that your account is valid and update, if you still feel the invoice generated in error you may contact our customer service number at 1-877-743-9727 for assistance from one of our representatives.

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What if I receive an invoice in the mail, but I never drove on the Newport Bridge?

Invoices are sent to the registered owner of the vehicle, or E-ZPass account holders. The invoice includes a photograph of the vehicle that drove through the tolling point. If you still believe it is an error, please contact the RITBA Customer Service Center at 1-877-743-9727.

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What will happen if I do not pay a Toll Violation Notice?

Notice Structure: Failure to pay the toll amount due within fourteen (14) days of the issuance of this Toll Violation Notice is subject to the following fee schedule:

• On day 15 an additional $40.00 fee is added;
• On day 46 an additional $35.00 fee is added;

Division of Motor Vehicles: A hold will be placed on the vehicle registration and driver’s license associated with the toll violations until violations are resolved.

Rhode Island State Police: RITBA notifies RISP of repeat violators and will issue a summons to appear for toll violators and toll evaders at the Rhode Island Traffic Tribunal.

Rhode Island Traffic Tribunal: Required to appear in court before a Judge. Failure to appear will result in immediate suspension of your driver’s license and vehicle registration and a $500.00 fine is assessed per toll violation.

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I received a Toll Violation Notice that I would like to dispute. What should I do?

Your dispute must be submitted in writing within 30 days of each Toll Violation Notice to the Violation Processing Center located at the below address. Late disputes or incomplete forms will not be accepted.

Click here to download the Toll Violation Dispute Form.

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