SOUTHERN INDIANA — The majority still haven't, but since RiverLink announced last week that holds would be placed on vehicle registrations of Kentucky and Indiana drivers who didn't pay their late tolls and fees, thousands of violators have paid up.
As of last week, around 16,000 registration holds were expected in Indiana and 19,000 in Kentucky. Drivers who faced holds had to have ignored four unpaid RiverLink toll notices over a minimum of a 135-day period.
Nearly 6,500 drivers have paid their dues so far, adding up to $170,000, according to a news release. In total, unpaid tolls and fees amounted to $7 million.
Holds will start next week for drivers who have not paid their fees. A notification about the hold will be mailed 10 days after the driver receives their fourth and final RiverLink notice. The driver should also receive collection calls.
A registration hold is only a problem when a driver goes to renew their registration. They will be denied until the hold is released.
RiverLink tolls are used to maintain the Abraham Lincoln, Kennedy and Lewis and Clark bridges and the RiverLink tolling system, as well as to pay off the cost of the $2.3 billion Ohio River Bridges Project.
The vehicle registration holds were authorized in Indiana by the state’s administrative code.
Unpaid fees must be reimbursed in full for registration holds to be lifted.