Illinois drivers checking their I-PASS accounts this week may have found an unwelcome surprise: warnings about unpaid tolls they thought were long settled. The Illinois Tollway says a billing glitch affected about 100,000 customers, with some notices tied to trips from nearly a year ago.
The issue has left drivers sorting through unfamiliar charges, old travel dates and warnings about additional fees. CBS News Chicago reported Friday that the glitch caused unexpected unpaid-toll alerts to appear on customer accounts earlier this month.
In an earlier report, CBS News Chicago said one producer found a toll dating to July 2025 after trying to update a payment card. A Tollway supervisor reportedly said the agency can bill customers up to one year after a vehicle uses the system. In contrast, the agency described the incident as “not an ongoing problem for customers.”
Why The Warning Could Become More Expensive
The Illinois Tollway’s official invoice schedule lists a $3 initial invoicing fee for passenger vehicles on standard corridors, followed by an additional $5 fee at the third notice. The agency’s invoice information says unpaid tolls can move through a series of notices before entering the violation process.
What Drivers Should Do Now
Drivers who see an unexpected alert should check the transaction history, license plate information and payment method directly through the official Tollway website or app. The agency’s customer service page lists 800-824-7277 for I-PASS and unpaid-toll questions, with representatives available during posted service hours.
That verification step matters because Illinois officials have also warned about fake toll-payment messages designed to steal personal or financial information. The Illinois attorney general’s office advised residents in a consumer alert not to use payment links in unsolicited texts and instead to check toll accounts through official channels.
Glitch Arrives As Toll Hike Comments Near Deadline
The billing confusion comes as the Tollway seeks public feedback on a proposed 15-year, $26.5 billion capital program. Under the agency’s Driving Connections plan, passenger tolls would rise by about 45 cents per toll beginning January 1, 2027, with comments due by noon Monday.
