65K drivers erroneously charged for Seattle tunnel tolls

SEATTLE (AP) — Transportation officials in Washington state have started to give refunds to about 65,000 drivers who were erroneously charged when traveling through tunnel tolls in Seattle.

The state Department of Transportation confirmed technical issues caused tolling equipment in the tunnel on State Route 99 to charge a 25-cent photo-enforced fee on one or more trips, KOMO-TV reported Friday.

Drivers with a “Good to Go” pass who traveled through the tunnel from Nov. 9 to Dec. 31 will be automatically credited 25 cents, officials said.

The credit should appear in accounts within seven days and drivers do not have to do anything, transportation officials said. The department expects to refund $70,000, officials said.

Department engineers discovered the problem after customers started to report being overcharged, officials said.

Motorists without a pass are charged a legitimate 25-cent photo enforcement fee if they instead register their license plate number on their account, officials said. A pass is the only way to pay the lowest toll through the Seattle tunnel, transportation officials said.