(File Photo: Source for Photo: FILE – Vehicles move past signs that indicate payment methods for driving on the Pennsylvania Turnpike at the entrance ramp in Gibsonia, Pa. in this file photo from Aug. 30, 2021. Gov. Tom Wolf gave final approval on Thursday, Nov. 3, 2022, to legislation aimed at getting owners or operators of some 25,000 vehicles to pay their overdue bills for turnpike usage, The law that could trigger the suspension of thousands of vehicle registrations early next year. (AP Photo/Keith Srakocic, File)

Noah Haswell, Beaver County Radio News

(Middletown, PA) The Pennsylvania Turnpike is now delaying a plan to text drivers about unpaid tolls.

The Turnpike Commission was preparing a pilot program which would send text reminders to drivers before unpaid tolls were sent to collections.

The commission notes that it is saving the idea for the time being.

The agency also commented in part of a statement: “Based on feedback, and until we can more clearly distinguish ourselves from scammers, we are not moving forward with the additional text messaging pilot at this time.”

The goal of this proposed texting program, according to agency officials, was to collect payments faster and reduce the number of accounts sent to collections.