In March, the E-ZPass system on the Maine Turnpike was suspended for 12 hours as a precautionary measure against a potential online security breach. This decision, announced by turnpike officials, led to a temporary halt in charging tolls to user accounts, a process set to resume this week. The E-ZPass vendor, TransCore, deactivated its lane-scanning system upon detecting an attempted breach. Although the system resumed recording toll transactions immediately after the shutdown, data transfer to the turnpike authority was delayed until the security threat was resolved.
The Maine Turnpike Authority confirmed that the personal data of its 395,000 personal and 13,000 business E-ZPass accounts remained secure throughout the incident. During the shutdown on March 19, from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m., approximately 110,000 E-ZPass transactions were unprocessed, amounting to an estimated $200,000 in tolls based on previous collection figures. The authority plans to catch up on delayed transactions within five to seven business days.
Extensive data testing has been conducted to ensure transaction accuracy post-recovery. Any inconsistencies identified will not be charged to user accounts. Additionally, automatic cash replenishment for E-ZPass accounts may have been disrupted unless triggered by travel outside Maine. Users who manually load cash are advised to verify their account balances.
TransCore, the Nashville-based toll technology company, did not provide immediate comment on the shutdown or its broader impacts. E-ZPass, widely used across eastern, southern, and Midwestern U.S. highways, facilitates toll collection across plazas and exits on Maine’s Interstate 95 from York to Gardiner.
A public notice regarding the E-ZPass interruption was issued on March 21, with affected users advised to disregard certain toll booth messages. The authority recently announced that the system interruption has been resolved, and all toll messages and lights are now functioning correctly. Any remaining discrepancies in toll revenue and collection will be discussed with TransCore as part of an ongoing dialogue. Last year, the authority collected $191 million in tolls.
The Bottom Line
The resumption of toll processing on the Maine Turnpike signifies a return to normalcy for regular commuters and the authority alike. For E-ZPass users, this means ensuring their accounts are adequately funded to avoid disruptions in service. The incident underscores the importance of robust cybersecurity measures in safeguarding user data and maintaining the integrity of essential electronic systems.
This event also highlights the crucial role of communication between service providers and customers during technical disruptions. While the security threat was managed without data compromise, the temporary system shutdown serves as a reminder of the potential vulnerabilities within digital toll collection systems and the need for ongoing vigilance to protect user information.