Sen. Dawn Euer has introduced legislation that would require the Rhode Island Turnpike and Bridge Authority to proactively replace failing toll transponders and to notify drivers of unpaid tolls before their licenses and vehicle registrations are jeopardized.
The bill, 2026-S 2728, would direct the authority to establish rules and regulations covering transponder failures, including outreach to drivers, free replacements, and the mitigation or forgiveness of tolls and penalties resulting from a failed transponder.
The legislation would also require the authority to send notice to violators by email or mail, warning them that their driver’s license and vehicle registration may be in jeopardy for failing to pay tolls, before any violations are reported to the Rhode Island Division of Motor Vehicles.
“Unbeknownst to drivers, transponder batteries are expiring across Rhode Island, leading to heavy fines and the potential for suspended licenses before the driver has any idea what’s happened,” said Euer, a Newport Democrat who represents District 13, which includes Newport and Jamestown. “These batteries cannot be replaced and there is no way for a driver to know that the battery has failed until the fines arrive. This has been an ongoing source of frustration for drivers in my district and across the state. The Bridge Authority should establish a proactive, affirmative outreach plan to replace these transponders before drivers face astronomical fines and late fees, which is what this legislation mandates.”
Under current law, drivers with unpaid tolls, fees or fines that remain unsettled 90 days after their original issuance, and who have incurred at least 10 instances of failure to pay, risk being unable to renew their driver’s license and vehicle registration.
According to the Rhode Island Turnpike and Bridge Authority, around 6,500 transponder batteries failed in 2025.
