April 4, 2025 (MIAMI, OK) — The Shawnee Tribe is announcing a new agreement with the Oklahoma Turnpike Authority (OTA) that will provide OTA access to Shawnee Tribe motor vehicle registration records for toll collection purposes. This agreement ensures that tolls accrued by tribal citizens using OTA turnpikes are properly assigned to the registered owners of vehicles with Shawnee Tribe-issued license plates.
“We genuinely appreciate the partnership we’ve built with the Shawnee Tribe and want to reassure Shawnee citizens that we are ready to work with them to quickly resolve any invoicing questions or concerns,” said Joe Echelle, OTA executive director.
Effective March 16, 2025, motorists with Shawnee Tribe-issued license plates who do not have a PIKEPASS account will receive monthly OTA invoices for tolls accumulated through the PlatePay system. PlatePay is a video toll collection system that captures an image of the vehicle’s license plate and invoices the registered owner. In addition to this notice, information has been mailed to all Shawnee households.
What This Means for Shawnee Tag-Holders:
Data Privacy and Scam Text Alert: The Shawnee Tribe Tag Office will only share the registered owner’s name, address, and plate number with OTA for toll collection purposes. Motorists should be aware of a recent increase in fraudulent text message schemes nationwide claiming unpaid or overdue toll invoices designed to trick people into paying scammers. These texts are not from PIKEPASS or the Oklahoma Turnpike Authority. Report suspicious texts as spam. If you’ve shared personal information or clicked any links, secure your financial accounts and report a complaint at ic3.gov.
The Shawnee Tribe encourages all citizens with Shawnee Tribe-issued plates to review their toll payment options to avoid higher charges. For questions or assistance regarding this change, please contact the Oklahoma Turnpike Authority at 1-800-PIKEPASS or visit their website at oklahoma.gov/ota. The Shawnee Tribe Tag Office is available at 918-542-2441, ext. 102.
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