The Maryland Department of Transportation is reminding drivers to prepare for increased tolls around the state starting next week.
Rates for cars and light trucks at the Fort McHenry and Harbor Tunnels in Baltimore, as well as the Key Bridge on I-695 will increase by $1 starting Tuesday. The Chesapeake Bay Bridge Toll will jump from $2.50 to $4 for those vehicles.
The plan also includes stiffer penalties for drivers who pass through toll plazas without paying. The old fee of $3 per offense is gone. Now the state will use video cameras to catch violators and fine them up to $15 each time, depending on which toll was skipped.
The tolling plan also includes discounts for EZ-Pass users and regular commuters. The state's transportation authority said the increase will generate $90 million in its first full year, and will help repay significant debt incurred during recent road rehabilitation projects.
