The Ohio Turnpike and Infrastructure Commission has reported that individuals across multiple area codes have received deceptive messages likely generated by automated “robo-texting systems.” These texts instruct recipients to make payments via fake websites.

A Clear Warning from Officials

“The Ohio Turnpike does not request its customers to make payments by text,” the commission clarified. Additionally, it noted that any collections for unpaid tolls or violations are not conducted via text messages.

For secure transactions, customers are urged to use the commission’s official websites, EZpassOH.com and OhioTurnpike.org, which are the only platforms associated with Ohio Turnpike’s E-ZPass accounts.

A History of Scam Alerts

Unfortunately, text scams like these are not new to Ohio. The commission previously issued three different scam alerts in 2024, with the latest warning being made public in August. The ongoing nature of these scams underscores the importance of remaining vigilant.

What to Do if Targeted by a Scam

If you’ve received a suspicious text message about unpaid tolls, here’s what officials recommend you do immediately:

• Delete the Scam Text: Avoid clicking on any links in the message.

• Protect Your Accounts: If you’ve accidentally clicked on a fraudulent link and provided sensitive information, contact your bank or credit card provider to secure your financial accounts.

• Report the Scam: File a complaint with the FBI’s Internet Crime Complaint Center, including details such as the phone number and any website links provided in the message.

• Verify Tolls via Official Channels: If you suspect you have unpaid tolls, check your account directly through Ohio Turnpike’s verified websites or customer service line.

Rising Reports of Toll Payment Scams Nationwide

Ohio is not alone in dealing with these scams. Maryland officials issued a similar warning in January about “smishing” attempts, a technique that uses text messages to trick users into revealing personal or financial information. Reports from South Carolina have also highlighted comparable fraudulent schemes.

A Broader Problem and National Message

Across the country, toll agencies are urging customers to stay alert. Last year, the E-ZPass Group, a coalition of toll agencies from 19 states, issued a statement cautioning customers about ongoing scam attempts via text messages, advising them to ensure their personal and financial information remains secure.

This concerning trend has also caught the attention of federal authorities. In April of last year, the FBI reported receiving over 2,000 complaints in just one month relating to toll payment scams across three states. Their advice to the public is straightforward—never click on unsolicited links and immediately delete any suspicious messages.

If you’d like to report a scam, the FBI’s Internet Crime Complaint Center provides a website. Be sure to include both the sender’s phone number and any links featured in the text.

Source: Land Line

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A collaborative effort between the Ohio State Highway Patrol (OSHP) and the Ohio Turnpike and Infrastructure Commission (OTIC) is in place to address the frequent causes behind both passenger and commercial vehicle collisions.

“The motoring public can expect to see troopers conducting high-visibility patrols on the turnpike through the rest of 2025, focusing on distracted driving, speed enforcement and safety belt usage,” said Lt. Erica Gockstetter. “But we cannot just enforce our way to a safer Ohio Turnpike. To truly create the safest driving environment, we need a commitment from motorists to drive in ways that are responsible and safe.”

Lt. Gockstetter highlighted the importance of safe driving practices for all types of motorists, especially in how passenger vehicles share the road with commercial trucks.

“We want to remind the motoring public to use caution around commercial vehicles. Avoid the no-zone by staying out of the blind areas in the front, back and sides of these vehicles. Do not cut in front of a commercial vehicle, as they require more stopping distance than a passenger vehicle,” she advised. “We equally ask commercial drivers to drive alert, follow the hours-of-service regulations, and be attentive to blind spots when changing lanes. Additionally, driving appropriately for road or weather conditions is crucial.”

Alarming Turnpike Safety Statistics Drive Action

The safety campaign comes on the heels of sobering data from the Ohio Turnpike. Between 2020 and 2024, there were 3,810 crashes caused by speeding, resulting in 18 fatalities and 1,514 injuries. Additionally, 326 accidents involved distractions, resulting in one death and 141 injuries, while 29 fatalities were recorded where safety belts were available but not used.

To address these troubling numbers, OSHP and OTIC are urging drivers to reflect on their habits behind the wheel.

Chris Matta, chief engineer and deputy executive director of the Ohio Turnpike and Infrastructure Commission, called for a collective effort to change dangerous driving behaviors.

Chris Matta, chief engineer and deputy executive director of the Ohio Turnpike and Infrastructure Commission, urged drivers of both passenger vehicles and commercial trucks to recognize and address unsafe driving habits, such as aggressive or distracted driving. Taking these steps is crucial to reducing accidents and preventing injuries and fatalities on the Ohio Turnpike and beyond.

Source: Overdrive

The post Ohio Law Enforcement Focuses on Safer Driving on the Turnpike appeared first on Truck Drivers USA.

“The new toll collection system – featuring open-road tolling – will continue to stimulate economic activity and growth across our 241-mile Ohio Turnpike, which is designated as Interstate 80, I-90 and I-76,” said Ferzan Ahmed, executive director of the Turnpike Commission. “The local, regional and national economic benefits of our top-performing facility will be immense for our commuters, travelers as well as the commercial freight industry.”

The Turnpike Commission disclosed the elimination of entry and exit gates at 20 toll plazas statewide.

Additionally, 127 lanes now feature “new electronic tolling components, including sensors and other equipment to read E-ZPass transponders and to classify vehicles by the number of axles and vehicle height.”

This extensive overhaul, initiated in 2019, incurred a nearly $250 million investment solely financed by toll-generated revenue. Remarkably, the ambitious five-year project adhered to its budgetary confines.

Key elements of the updated system encompass video surveillance for license plate imaging, deployment of traffic monitoring apparatus along the toll road, and the establishment of the new Westgate toll plaza at milepost 4. Notably, eastbound travelers at the Eastgate toll plaza will now traverse toll-free. Additionally, two new mainline toll plazas have been erected at mileposts 49 and 211.

To accommodate the reduction in toll plazas from 31 to 24 and the incorporation of new toll gates, a revised toll schedule has been introduced. Despite these alterations, the Turnpike Commission assures that the overall toll rate per mile remains unchanged for the time being. Moreover, the updated toll schedule introduces Class 8 vehicle classification, tailored for long combination vehicles exceeding 90 feet in length.

In conjunction with the implementation of the open-road tolling framework, nine toll plazas along the turnpike will cease toll collection. Cash-paying customers will no longer need to halt for ticket retrieval or toll payment, while E-ZPass transponders will no longer be scanned. Overhead signage on the gantries will now indicate “NO TOLL, KEEP MOVING.”

The converted toll-free gantries encompass Toll Plaza 13 (Bryan-Montpelier) in Williams County, Toll Plaza 25 (Archbold-Fayette) in Fulton County, Toll Plaza 34 (Wauseon) in Fulton County, Toll Plaza 39 (Delta-Lyons) in Fulton County, Toll Plaza 215 (Lordstown-West) in Trumbull County, Toll Plaza 216 (Lordstown-East) in Trumbull County, Toll Plaza 218 (Niles-Youngstown) in Mahoning County, Toll Plaza 232 (Youngstown) in Mahoning County, and Toll Plaza 234 (Youngstown-Poland) in Mahoning County.

The modernization of the toll collection system has been characterized as the most significant construction undertaking in Turnpike history since its inaugural completion in 1955. It is a monumental achievement for the commission.

“The new toll collection system and the technology behind it are a big step forward in safety, efficiency, and convenience for the Ohio Turnpike’s passenger car and commercial truck customers to reach east and west destinations along the northern corridor of Ohio and beyond,” the commission said.

A comprehensive overview of the updated toll schedules is accessible here.

Source: Land Line

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