E-ZPass Sucks

moi | ML/NJ

[ml/nj]

Wouldn't these sorts of systems be a great way for them to nail you for speeding, some day?

Actually "they" have had a similar capability for a number of years, and "they" have used it too.

Everytime one enters one of the major NY to Chicago "turnpikes" he gets a ticket stamped with the entry time. That ticket has to be surrendered (or I guess one could say he lost it, and accept the maximum toll) and the total time to traverse a known distance can be determined. My father was once riding in a car that was given a ticket for completing the Pennsylvania Turnpike at an average 66 mph. The driver protested that it was only one mph over the limit, and was told that he must have forgotten about all those 35 mph tunnels. (This was circa 1960.)

ML/NJ

[RaceBannon]

I'm an old man now, if I miss a block, I'd get hurt!

[ModernDayCato]

They tried to pull the same bull--it on me a couple of years ago. I told them (literally) that they could shove the administrative fee.

Just out of curiousity I asked them what they would do to me if I refused to pay the fee. They said that there really wasn't anything they COULD do except cancel my EZPass, because the fees weren't authorized by law (they thought them up themselves). Not sure if this is still the case, but I got them to waive the fees and take the charge off my bill.

[technochick99]

I used mine for two years with no problems, except for the jerks that wouldn't slow down as they passed through and about ran me over.

Yikes! Thank god you're not in IL or you could be talking about me!

[technochick99]

Ri-i-ight. Just hook up a GPS gizmo, and things are much easier!

[falconi]

they are all over Texas and Oklahoma, mostly in urban areas: e.g. George Bush Turnpike, Dallas North Turnpike, Indian Nation Turnpike..... ??????? I don't mind user-pay systems --- the speeds are faster and you can still pay cash if you want to....

[falconi]

we have tollways in the DFW metroplex (George Bush, Dallas North - as well as freeways.......it is the same way in Boston where my company is based :) the point i am making is that the big brother govt syndrome is not limited to the northeast, perhaps the density of population just makes it seem that way

[1Old Pro]

And some more sad truths..... The NYS Thruway was supposed to go "toll free" years ago, at least that's what they said when they first bonded. BUT, the tricked the people again and tolls are still required AND are still going up every year.

[ArrogantBustard]

The tolls were supposed to be lifted when the bonds were paid off.

There's the difference between States. The tolls on the Virginia Beach Expressway, the Norfolk (Va.) tunnels, and I-95 through Richmond were all lifted in the late 1980s and early 1990s. The Chesapeake Bay Bridge Tunnel is still toll for a very good reason: maintenance is horribly expensive. Not sure why Rte 267 from Washington to Leesburg is still toll, but it surely is the best maintained highway in northern Virginia.

AB

[motzman]

You are spidering plexiglass with a single punch?

Yeah, I'm a bad-ass (LOL). Although I'm only 5' 10" and about 200 lbs, I've had about 5 years of combat martial arts training, and 10 years of fencing experience (former NJ state champion). Beleive it or not, the fencing experience has been the most valuable, since it teaches you rythm, timing, and distance more effectively than any other martial art I've been expose to. However, my fightin' days are over, now I'm usually calm and composed, and never talk about such things unless I'm asked.

If I ran up against Race, I'd either run, or look for a shovel to either:

1) Konk him over the head with, then run away

or

2) Dig my own grave, then jump inside of it.

I also like guns, but don't own any now...

[George from New England]

At least Connecticut had the sense to remove the tolls on the turnpike and the Hartford area bridges.

Shusssss! Now you did it. They 'heard' you in Hartford. Next thing you know they will implement ONLY an E-Z Pass system. Hartford has spent like there's no tomorrow and they're clobbering the residents and businesses as we speak.

[George from New England]

Last spring I inadvertently drove into the EZpass lane coming off the Tappanzee bridge. No place to put money. No one came to my aid. So I took off, half expecting to see a flashing red light in the rear view mirror. No hot pursuit. Never got a notice either.

I did that once, intentionally. I had lost one hour in standstill traffic at 11 pm waiting to cross the Tappan Zee Bridge. The kids had been asleep, and this delay woke them up. There was no way I was going to pay them $3 for this mess. Never heard about it since.

[DMLI]

I'm sure there are a million stories that illustrate E-Z Pass' inept management, and yet it continues. My story began sometime in 2001. I moved and registered a forwarding address at the Post Office. To the best of my knowledge all my mail reached me sooner or later. In June 2002 I moved again. In May 2003 I received a notice from a Collection Agency for MTA Bridges & Tunnels which I came to learn resulted in an unpaid balance on an E-Z pass. I was unaware of this outstanding dept. It is curious, though how the collection agency could follow me but MTA Bridges and Tunnels could not. I paid the balance right away. Then I applied for a new E-Z Pass account only to find out they had not credited the payment. To make a long and very frustrating story short, suffice it to say, today, 15 months later, after calls to the collection agency: Allied Interstate, my bank to obtain copies of the front and back of my check and many many calls to E-Z Pass including faxing them the proof of payment on 2 different occasions 8 months apart I (think) I have it resolved. I tried to tell them the company they had contracted with to collect their debts was doing so and withholding the information and probably funds from them (don't you think they would want to know that?) I had been advised that it could take up to 18 months to update their records. I was assured by a supervisor at E-Z pass today that my records have been updated, by my proof of payment, NOT the collection agency and I am free and cleared to open an account. Somehow I feel I should call again next month just to check. I travel on and off LI all the time. I like to go upstate, south Jersey, New England and I'd prefer not to wait on a cash toll line. The concept is good. I always believed the tolls were to maintain the roads, bridges and tunnels. (Although I did live in Colo and Montana for years and the roads were in excellent condition without stopping motorists to collect money.)
Will I get another E-Z?
Probably not.
Someone let me know when they're "under new management" please.

[zeugma]

Texas is being carpeted with the evil things too. Pisses me off no end.

[Fresh Wind]

I replied, "Robbers usually use a gun."

The REAL robbers don't need guns. They have the police to do their dirty work.

[CFC__VRWC]

Why is it that on one way tolls they are always out of NJ? It costs us to leave, but is free to come in!!

You get the same situation if you leave Maryland on US 301 - you have to pay a toll to cross the Potomac River going from Maryland to Virginia, but it's free if you're going the other way.

[andy58-in-nh]

I've been using it here in NH, and while traveling to more toll-intensive states, and have not had a problem to this point. In-state, we get a 30% discount on turnpike tolls, and the lines are almost nonexistent.

Having driven in NY & NJ recently, I do appreciate your position, though. I would be angry as hell to have to pay those confiscatory rates (every few miles, it seems) in addition to income taxes, sales taxes, etc. The bridges are a joke. The $6 round trip on the GW across the Hudson (paid eastbound) collected from so many thousands of cars weekly ought to be enough to gold-plate the damned bridge by now. OTOH, I never much cared for toll takers who rarely said "thank you", but rather looked at you like you just interrupted their favorite TV show.

[N. Theknow]

For yea in those days, they shall neither buy nor sell save they that bear the mark of the beast on their windshield or on their dash.

[N. Theknow]

Yesterday I asked the toll collector whether she had a gun. She said, "No. Why?"

I replied, "Robbers usually use a gun."

The "muscle" that backs her is packing heat.