Bracing for the start of congestion pricing this spring — state lawmakers grilled MTA officials about their ability to charge driving customers fairly during a joint legislative budget hearing on Wednesday in Albany.

They’re already skeptical, because of the authority’s cashless tolling track record.

“I’ve talked to many New Yorkers who have been burdened with bills reaching tens of thousands of dollars, often leaving them in debt collection, losing their car and subsequently, their livelihood,” said Assemblyman Kenny Burgos of the Bronx.

“Many of these New Yorkers are being threatened by or are in the process of being adjudicated through some level of debt collection, we believe is a huge problem. It’s a civil rights issue. It’s an attack on the poor,” said State Assemblywoman Latrice Walker of Brooklyn.

Burgos vetted complaints from constituents without E-Z Pass who want to pay, but by the time the bills arrive in the mail, they’re slapped with overdue notices and huge fines.

“There are three tolling authorities in New York State, but it is very apparent the overwhelming majority of the people dealing with this issue are the ones who cross the MTA’s seven bridges and two tunnels into New York City,” Burgos said.

He introduced a bill that would require the MTA to send timely notices and scale back those administrative late fees.

“We are absolutely prepared to work with all the members of the legislature on customer service. I don’t necessarily fully disagree with you on fees,” said Janno Lieber, CEO and chair of the MTA.

But the MTA indicated it has bigger fish to fry.

“The bottom line is: people need to pay their tolls and the interventions we’ve been doing are increasing dramatically and are focused on people who are massive scofflaws or intentionally covering their plates,” Lieber said.

Drivers with altered and hidden plates cost the MTA millions of dollars. The agency raked in roughly $2.4 billion in toll revenues last year, according to numbers recently released by the MTA. Within the same year, 17,865 summonses were issued, including 3,217 for covered license plates. Twenty-six arrests were made for criminal possession of a forged license plate.

The cash-strapped authority said they can’t afford evasion to persist under congestion pricing.

“We gave out 3,300 summons. We intercepted 50% more vehicles than we did last year, the challenge is that we need stronger enforcement tools. A little more bite to the law and we can’t actually confiscate the plates, which is crazy.” Leiber said.

Gov. Kathy Hochul proposed in her state budget additional penalties for toll theft. If approved, law enforcement officials would be able to impose a class A misdemeanor.