MORE complaints against SunPass

By: Mike Deeson

Tampa, Florida -- Many drivers continue to tell us they are experiencing major problems with their SunPass.

They echo the countless e-mails we have received filled with complaints like:

"I received no notice of toll violations."

"They said my license would be suspended."

"A warrant would be issued for my arrest."

"I committed no violations but I'm forced to pay to keep my license."

Christine Bennett knows firsthand. We first met her in July when her license was suspended because SunPass said she owed more than $3,000 in fines for running SunPass lanes without paying. Bennett says she had no idea there was a problem.

"If I would have seen them, I would have paid them," Bennett says. "I would have made arrangements. I never saw them. I never received them."

Bennett also says she received tickets she is not responsible, for like one for running the toll in Broward County.

While SunPass wouldn't believe that Bennett has never been in Broward County, the Broward Sheriff's Office backs her up, saying the tag belongs to Enterprise Rent-A-Car. The company says she has never rented a car from them. SunPass still doubts her story.

"Last year, I was making $35,000 a year," Bennett explains. "Now I'm making $8.35 an hour. I can't drive, I can't do anything."

After our first two stories on SunPass problems aired, more and more people have been coming forward about things such as $1 fines turning into $500.

Denise Sigala was fined, even though SunPass said her balance was full on her account.

Under SunPass rules, the agency requires you to register the car that uses the transponder or you can be fined. And like so many others, Sigala says she wasn't notified that she received three tickets from SunPass until the fines were $534.

Sigala says she is not paying, and will take them to court.

While 10 News attempted to talk to the statewide head of SunPass over the past few weeks, he has yet to return any calls. When the local spokesperson was asked to comment on e-mail after e-mail with the same complaint, she said she couldn't do that on-camera unless she checked each individual complaint, because she couldn't be sure they are true.

That's a similar response she gave us when 10 News first did this story.

What so many SunPass users find ridiculous is that the agency digs in its heels and won't admit it has made mistakes. And we keep encountering people who say the toll agency is taking an unfair toll on their lives.

Past Stories:

05/21/07 - Overcharged on your SunPass?

07/25/07 - Investigation uncovers more SunPass problems

07/27/07 - Senator wants to change SunPass following our investigation