The state of New York has agreed to pay truckers more than $44 million after the Owner-Operator Independent Drivers Association successfully sued to overturn special fees for trucks using New York highways.

OOIDA sued New York in 2013 for imposing a $15 registration fee and additional $4 decal charge for large trucks using the state's highways, according to the industry news site Land Line magazine. The association said the fees were discriminatory because they charged out-of-state truck drivers the same rate as New York truck drivers, who spend considerably more time on state roads.

New York's Supreme Court ruled in favor of OOIDA earlier this year. The association announced Monday the state had agreed to refund truckers $44.4 million in fees rather than appeal the decision.

"We fought against a number of similar taxes back in the 1980s and 1990s and the states lost in every one of those cases," said Jim Johnston, president of OOIDA's board of directors. "Given that history, we were shocked that New York even thought they could get away with this blatantly unconstitutional tax."

The fees will be refunded once the court approves the agreement, OOIDA said. http://bit.ly/2ddcYHH

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