BUFFALO, N.Y. (WKBW) — The New York State Highway is taking new action against drivers who avoid paying tolls, and it involves banning them from using the highway.

A Thruway spokesperson told me that the NYS Thruway Authority is missing $40 million in fees from drivers who didn’t pay tolls and that 90% of its revenue comes from tolls.

This new regulation banning drivers would be enforced through license plates, similar to how police enforce suspended registrations.

Drivers try to avoid being stopped at toll booths ghost platesa process of using fake license plates. New York City authorities have been arrest dozens of drivers who have phantom plates.

I went out and spoke to drivers to share their voices on the possibility of other drivers being banned from the highway due to unpaid tolls.

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“If you don’t think you can pay, don’t drive on it,” said Marc Nemerow from Depew, who has been a truck driver for 50 years

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“If you drive on the highway, you should pay like everyone else,” said Jeffrey McDonald from Amherst, who is a tow truck driver. “We use the highway all the time with the towing company, and I’m sure it costs my boss a lot of money.”

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“Highways have to be paid for,” said David Michael Oxendine, who often travels to Buffalo from North Carolina, referring to the Thruway Authority’s investments in infrastructure.