EZ-Pass Questions for NY/NJ

[maniac5999]

from the west? every bridge from the Outerbridge (Staten Island) to the GWB has the same toll. If you go thru SI, you also have to pay the Verizano, which is about the same. You have to go far north to avoid the tolls. The Verizano (25 mi north) is $5, or you can go to the Bear mtn. bridge and pay $1.50, but that's 50 miles north of the city.

 

[isekii]

Heads need to roll at Port Authority.
So much mismanagement and wasted $ hence all these hikes in tolls and shit.

Biggest discount however with EZpass is the Carpool discount.

I think it's 3.50 if you have 3 or more heads in your car.

 

[lothar]

This.

And the government could only "track where you are" using EZ Pass when you are on a toll road. Hardly efficient.

They can tell that you were speeding and mail you a ticket based on when you pass 2 toll booths.
It's amazing that governments haven't started doing this yet, but they certainly could since most states have budget deficits.

I'd call that very efficient.

 

[DrPizza]

For what it's worth, from what I understand, you can get your ezpass through any state, regardless of where you reside.

 

[lothar]

Heads need to roll at Port Authority.
So much mismanagement and wasted $ hence all these hikes in tolls and shit.

Biggest discount however with EZpass is the Carpool discount.
I think it's 3.50 if you have 3 or more heads in your car.

How will they know this? Is there some kind of camera that takes a picture of all people in the car when they go through an EZ-Pass toll system?

I've only used EZ-Pass(actually I think it goes by a different name in Texas) once before on a rental car when I went for a wedding in Texas last October and that was by error since I missed the turn for "cash only" and kept going straight.
I only use tolls probably twice a year...Not enough for me to get an EZ-Pass system installed on my vehicle and pay the maintenance fees.

 

[akshatp]

They can tell that you were speeding and mail you a ticket based on when you pass 2 toll booths.
It's amazing that governments haven't started doing this yet, but they certainly could since most states have budget deficits.

I'd call that very efficient.

They don't do this and have no plans currently to do so.

 

[akshatp]

How will they know this? Is there some kind of camera that takes a picture of all people in the car when they go through an EZ-Pass toll system?

You have to go through the cash lane and tell the toll-taker that you are using the EZPass carpool discount.

 

[lothar]

For what it's worth, from what I understand, you can get your ezpass through any state, regardless of where you reside.

Interesting...
Are you legally required to pay your state's maintenance fees?
Is this completely legal, or is this like the Amazon(or buying anything at an out of state B&M really) sales tax issue?

Part of the problem with all this system is that they are not compatible.
Maryland uses something different. Texas uses something different. Illinois uses something different. Florida uses something different. And so on.

 

[akshatp]

its pointless to just waste money for no reason other than paranoia.

Agreed whole heartedly. Tin-foil hat anyone?

 

[lothar]

You have to go through the cash lane and tell the toll-taker that you are using the EZPass carpool discount.

How do they verify this? I don't think the cash lane has any special "EZ-Pass" censors. Of course some tolls may have lanes that accept both EZ-Pass and also cash, but I find that to be an oxymoron.

Word of mouth?
By looking if there is transponder is attached to your windshield?
By actually looking up the license plate of the vehicle?

 

[paperfist]

How so? what's easier than a device you pay to carry, and it reports your location when you go through a toll? That's just for now. It would be trivial to put receivers everywhere to read the devices. No thanks.

They take a picture of your tags when you go through the booth cash or otherwise. So you're tracked no matter what. Plus these days there's cameras everywhere, you ain't hiding so you might as well get a little convenience for your trouble.

Someone said with EZ Pass they could give you a speeding ticket by checking booth to booth times. They could do that with cash as well...

 

[akshatp]

How do they verify this? I don't think the cash lane has any special "EZ-Pass" censors. Of course some tolls may have lanes that accept both EZ-Pass and also cash, but I find that to be an oxymoron.

Word of mouth?
By looking if there is transponder is attached to your windshield?
By actually looking up the license plate of the vehicle?

As of last year all lanes accept EZ Pass in NY/NJ.

 

[lothar]

Interesting...
Are you legally required to pay your state's maintenance fees?
Is this completely legal, or is this like the Amazon(or buying anything at an out of state B&M really) sales tax issue?

Part of the problem with all this system is that they are not compatible.
Maryland uses something different. Texas uses something different. Illinois uses something different. Florida uses something different. And so on.

A little wikipedia reading answered my own question.

E-ZPass users are not required to maintain their account with an agency in their home state. Subscribers can open an E-ZPass account with any member of the IAG regardless of residency. This means that users have the option of choosing an agency based on the fees that it charges, effectively allowing them to circumvent transponder and account maintenance fees.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/E-ZPass#Fees_by_state
Looks like Massachusetts is the cheapest. Go MA!

 

[Rubycon]

Thanks all for the info.

The Verrazano-Narrows Bridge in Staten Island is $13.00 cash and $9.60 for EZ-Pass for example.

It's free to go under.

I do miss sailing out of NYC though.

 

[dmcowen674]

A tracking device so the government always knows where I am. No thanks...

Do you have a cell phone?

If so, your every movement, e-mail is tracked.

 

[Soundmanred]

Do you have a cell phone?

If so, your every movement, e-mail is tracked.

We are all already tracked through our vinegar purchases, so the cell phone thing is not really a big deal.

 

[alent1234]

They can tell that you were speeding and mail you a ticket based on when you pass 2 toll booths.
It's amazing that governments haven't started doing this yet, but they certainly could since most states have budget deficits.

I'd call that very efficient.

ok

i haven't been on the GCP in a while but it seems the average speed is 70mph. NYC is in the 60's on most highways. the cops don't seem to care unless you are going faster than traffic and changing lanes every 2 seconds to pass everyone

 

[alent1234]

For what it's worth, from what I understand, you can get your ezpass through any state, regardless of where you reside.

the discounts are different

by accident i had mine from NJ for the first few years even though i live in NYC. once my wife got a job where she has to drive everyday we noticed we couldn't sign up for the bridge discounts and changed it

 

[Sinsear]

If you live in the tri-state area and own a car, it's a must have. The people who don't have them are idiots; disrespectful idiots. The traffic at some bridges multiplies exponentially for everyone because of the jerkoffs without ezpass.

 

[lxskllr]

If you live in the tri-state area and own a car, it's a must have. The people who don't have them are idiots; disrespectful idiots. The traffic at some bridges multiplies exponentially for everyone because of the jerkoffs without ezpass.

So the government impedes traffic, and it's the drivers fault? Got it.

 

[arcenite]

So the government impedes traffic, and it's the drivers fault? Got it.

I've been wondering why more people don't use ez pass. And now I have my answer, LOL.

I bet you don't have a bank account, either.

 

[lxskllr]

I've been wondering why more people don't use ez pass. And now I have my answer, LOL.

I bet you don't have a bank account, either.

You didn't get the point at all. They need to get rid of the tolls. That's what slows down traffic; even the tracking lanes. Tax your fuckin' citizens via income, or VAT, not roads the federal government helped pay for.

 

[Thump553]

For what it's worth, from what I understand, you can get your ezpass through any state, regardless of where you reside.

I got a NJ EZPass when living in CT. And yes I get charged a dollar a month for it, but NJ has a discount program for hybrids (off hours).

It's not totally tinfoil hat paranoia not to want an EZPass. Divorce attorneys frequently subpeona those records-great for proving hubby was visiting mistress in suburbs at the time he claimed he was working late in the city.

 

[Stifko]

If you live in the tri-state area and own a car, it's a must have. The people who don't have them are idiots; disrespectful idiots. The traffic at some bridges multiplies exponentially for everyone because of the jerkoffs without ezpass.

It is especially disrespectful for the port authority to only have one or two booths maximum open that take cash. They're the real jerk offs, not the drivers that don't want to buy into the ez pass program. I drive in NYC and do not want ez pass. Why should I pay a dollar a month if I do not commute every day by car? Even if I did, I would take the 3rd ave bridge which is free and avoid the TriBoro anyway.

 

[bruceb]

I have an E-Z Pass that was issued in NY .. at the time they had no NJ office. They do charge a $1 monthly fee, which I hate, but can't do anything about. The only time the unit is in the car, is if I know I will be going to an area there will be tolls or if I will be using the Garden State Parkway or NJ Turnpike. Using the NY 3rd Avenue bridge is a good idea, going from Manhattan to Bronx. But it won't be of any help to get to Queens, unless you run down the east side to the 59th St bridge. Sometimes, the quickest way is to take the toll road.