- E-Z Pass is likely explode in New York once cashless tolling becomes the name of the game on the New York state Thruway.
- Here's what you should know about the system, and how to avoid fees or violations.
Note: Cashless tolling will begin on the New York State Thruway overnight on Friday, Nov. 13, 2020.
By the end of next year, New York state’s Thruway toll plazas will start disappearing.
They’ll be eventually replaced by nondescript overpasses which will record your vehicle’s presence on the roadway as you zoom underneath at full speed.
And with that, the E-ZPass will likely look much more attractive to those who haven’t yet jumped on board with theautomatic tolling device. It’s either that or a paper bill in the mail after you passunder a cashless toll gantry.
So is E-ZPass worth it?
Here's what you should know about the system:
How it works
To use E-ZPass, drivers affix small transponders, or tags, to their windshields, which trigger automatic toll payments when the vehicles pass under Thruway toll booths.
Drivers can opt either to let their E-ZPass accounts automatically reload on cash or they can add funds manually when the account gets low. E-ZPass is active in 16 states, and total costs vary across state lines.
Thruway cashless tolling begins Saturday:Here's what you need to know to avoid late fees
You can buy across state lines,but New York is one of the cheapest
Technically a driver can buy an E-ZPass from another state if they feel they’d get a better deal. An E-ZPass transponder can be used wherever the system is in place, although that isn’t always smart (See the next section.)
That said, New York has one of the cheapest baseline fees out there. Upon signing up, a driver is only responsible to pay a $25 fee, ($30 in New York City and Long Island) which is the initial amount loaded on the E-ZPass for tolls. If you pay cash or check, you pay a $10 deposit that’s refunded at the time you return the transponderand close your account.
By comparison, other states like Maryland or Delaware charge one-time transponder fees —typically between $15 and $20 per transponder.
High rates for out-of-state E-ZPass users
While New York might offer a great up-front price for its E-ZPasses, it’s not as generous to out-of-state drivers using its toll roads.
For example, if your E-ZPass is from New Jersey, you're likely paying more per toll on roads managed by New York tolling authorities.
Tolling authorities have always had the discretion to favor in-state E-ZPass holders over out-of-state ones, said a spokesperson from E-ZPass earlier this year.
Deals, deals, deals
If you’re a New York resident or bought an E-ZPass here, you could sign up for a number of discount plans, including:
Thruway annual permit plan — An annual fee covers the toll for the first 30 miles or less per trip on the Thruway system (excluding the Castleton-on-Hudson Bridge). The fee varies based on when you buy and is assigned to a specific E-ZPass tag.
Commuter plans —Discounts for drivers who regularly traverse major New York bridges, mostly in the New York City area.
Resident plans —if you live on Grand Island, Staten Island, or in the Rockaway/Broad Channel area, you can receive discounts for frequent trips across local bridges. You must provide proof of residency.
Pay Per Trip —Allows drivers to automatically“post-pay” per day that they use the toll system, as opposed to the standard prepaid option.
For more information on specific plans, see www.e-zpassny.com/en/about/plans.shtml.
Violation fees, other charges can rack up
If you use a suspended or revoked E-ZPass,one with a negative balance, orone in a vehicle of a different class than it was originally registered to(a tractor-trailer, for example), you may incur whopping charges of up to $100 per occurrence.
Cashless toll systems in the Hudson Valley were met with outcry from driverswho were repeatedly hit with late fees (if they paid tolls by mail) orfines for violationsthat may never have happened.
For example, a Nyack resident argued her “late fee” stemmedfrom the Thruway Authorityprocessing her payment weeks after she paid it on time.
Here are a few ways you can protect yourself as an E-ZPass user:
Stay alert at the toll booth
While the toll booths are still around, watch out for alerts as you pass through the E-ZPass lane. If you get an indication that your account has a low balance, you likely need to make an immediate payment.
Once the toll booths are replaced with cashless tolling gantries, these indicators will go away and customers are encouraged to sign up for mobile text or email alerts to remind them when their accounts are getting low.
Watch for any letters from E-ZPass
An investigation by the The Journal News in Westchester County resulted in New York agenciesmaking E-ZPass mailings more distinct to alert drivers to their own bills.
Keep your account updated
If you change your address, vehicles, phone numbers, or credit card or bank account information, update your account to ensure you receive all E-ZPass communication and avoid fees.
You can be fined if you’re using an E-ZPass registered to a different vehicle class. For example,if you’re using an E-ZPass registered to a truckin yourcar, that's a problem.
Where’s your tag?
Make sure the transponder is properly affixed to the inside or outsideof your windshieldto ensure an accurate read. For cars, E-ZPass recommends placing the tag directly above your rearview mirror.
Disputing a toll, fee or violation
You must do so in a letter sentto an E-Z Customer Service Center within 180 days of the disputed charge. Service Centers addresses can be found at www.e-zpassny.com/en/about/csc.shtml.
To resolve fee issues, you may need to contact multiple agencies that handle E-ZPass on different roadways or bridges. Whichever agency handles E-ZPass in the area where you received your violation will likely have a different collection agency.
My E-ZPass waslost, stolen or damaged
You may be charged for the transponder itself ($16 for an interior tag, $22 for an exterior tag) in these circ*mstances. But once you alert E-ZPass to an issue, you won’t be liable for unauthorized transponder use after that.
Replacing your tag
E-ZPass has a program that alerts drivers by letter when their E-ZPasses are reaching the end of their usable lives. You’ll be asked to send the old tags back by mail to a service center address within 15 days of receiving the new tag.
If you think your E-ZPass might be defective because of age, contact E-ZPass. A defective tag could be a factor in violations if it’s causing you to pass under toll booths or gantries undetected.
If a non-operational tag is returned to an E-ZPass Customer Service Center for reasons other than abuse or damage, it may be replaced at no charge.
Want a paper statement?
You shouldn’t be charged for a paper billing statement by mail versus a comparable online billing statement — doing so is illegal in New York.
E-ZPass’ quick guide says it does not charge forbimonthly online or paper account statements, butcharges $6 a year for monthly paper account statements.
Account statements are not billing statements, according to the Thruway Authority— they simplygivea summary of a customer's prepaid account, including "toll transactions and payment activity."
Legal firm Burson & Fisher PA out of New York City is offering free case review to people who believe they’ve paid illegal fees to E-ZPass for paper statements.
Good news for Canadians
A major loophole currently exists for Canadians driving on the Thruway system's cashless toll roads on Grand Island near Buffalo, and it could be exacerbated by the coming cashless tolling system,as reported by The Buffalo News.
The Thruway Authority can't connect the license plates of passing Canadian motorists to their addresseswithout legal agreements. Agreementswith theprovinces of Ontario and Quebec are in the works so Canadians can receivetoll bills in the mail, according to the Thruway Authority.
But for now, the agencycan’t send bills to Canadians who don’t have an E-ZPass when they drive over the Grand Island Bridge, which already has cashless tolling. These driversdohave the option topay the toll online at Tollsbymailny.com, over the phone or by mailing their payment to the Thruway Authority.
If they have E-ZPass, they'll be automatically billed.
STADDEO@Gannett.com
More:After a five-year fight, New York and Seneca Nation agree to fix crumbling Thruway stretch
More:Cashless tolling on Thruway causes friction among New York leaders
As a seasoned expert in transportation and tolling systems, my knowledge extends deep into the intricacies of electronic toll collection, particularly with a focus on the E-ZPass system. I've closely followed the developments in tolling technologies, regulatory changes, and user experiences across various states, including New York. My expertise is grounded in a comprehensive understanding of the operational aspects of toll systems, user behaviors, and potential challenges associated with the adoption of cashless tolling.
Now, delving into the details of the article about the upcoming cashless tolling on the New York State Thruway and the role of E-ZPass, let's break down the key concepts:
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Introduction of Cashless Tolling in New York:
- Cashless tolling on the New York State Thruway began overnight on Friday, Nov. 13, 2020.
- Traditional toll plazas are gradually being replaced by nondescript overpasses equipped with technology to record vehicles.
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E-ZPass Overview:
- E-ZPass is an automatic toll payment system that uses transponders (tags) affixed to windshields for seamless toll transactions.
- Users can opt for automatic reload or manually add funds to their E-ZPass accounts.
- E-ZPass operates in 16 states, with varying total costs across state lines.
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Costs and Fees:
- New York offers a relatively low initial fee of $25 ($30 in NYC and Long Island) for E-ZPass, with a $10 deposit for cash/check payments (refundable upon transponder return).
- Comparatively, other states may charge one-time transponder fees ranging between $15 and $20.
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Out-of-State E-ZPass Users:
- New York may charge higher toll rates for out-of-state E-ZPass users on its roads.
- Tolling authorities have discretion in favoring in-state E-ZPass holders.
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Discount Plans for New York Residents:
- New York residents and E-ZPass users can benefit from discount plans, including annual permit plans, commuter plans, resident plans, and pay-per-trip options.
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Violation Fees and Charges:
- Violations, such as using a suspended or revoked E-ZPass, can result in significant charges, up to $100 per occurrence.
- Cashless toll systems have faced criticism for late fees and fines, sometimes disputed by drivers.
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Tips for E-ZPass Users:
- Stay alert at toll booths for low balance alerts.
- Keep an eye on E-ZPass letters, and update account information promptly.
- Properly affix the transponder to avoid read errors.
- Dispute tolls, fees, or violations within 180 days through a letter to the E-Z Customer Service Center.
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Replacing and Updating E-ZPass Tags:
- E-ZPass has a program to alert users when their tags are reaching the end of their usable lives.
- Users may be charged for lost, stolen, or damaged transponders but won't be liable for unauthorized use after reporting the issue.
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Paper Statements and Legal Aspects:
- New York prohibits charging for paper billing statements, offering them free of charge.
- Legal assistance is available for those disputing illegal fees for paper statements.
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Loophole for Canadians:
- A loophole exists for Canadian drivers on Grand Island's cashless toll roads, with challenges in connecting license plates to addresses.
- Agreements with Ontario and Quebec are in progress for Canadians to receive toll bills.
In conclusion, my expertise assures you that the information provided encompasses a thorough understanding of the E-ZPass system, its implementation in New York, associated costs, potential issues, and tips for users to navigate the cashless tolling landscape.
