We are vacationing (not camping ) in Kissimee. It seems like like everywhere you go around here except I4 they hit you with tolls. You can't go more than 10 miles (some less) without getting a toll booth. What gets me is you pay a toll and your exit is less than a half mile up the road, they set these up before the off ramp to make sure they get you more than once. Then there are the unmanned ones. Watch out for these because they only accept coins, you can't back up. I threw in 98cents of the $1.00 fee and got my picture taken ( in a rental car) so make sure you smile. Can't wait for that added bill to our trip.Just about every intersection has ticket cameras. You will see many people being added to the states scrap book. These intersections are much bigger than those in my home town and take you twice as long to get through. Just a suggestion ... If the light turns yellow do everything you can to stop. I suspect I received a token of the local authorities appreciation here as well. It kind of grinds you after spending all the money we are in local restaurants, universal studios, Epcot, stores, etc. It keeps you on your toes. Then the locals get upset because your leery of doing something wrong on their roads and you aren't moving fast enough for them, even though your doing the speed limit. Many 1 finger salutes.Now I know why we camp.

Wait until you get to Miami area... they just take your picture there and mail you a ticket (toll fee) for you to mail back to them. I did not even know I was on a toll road and ended up with 3 of them.

Another thing about those unmanned toll booths is that the machines don't always work correctly. Guy in front of me threw his coins in the chute 3 times and still didn't get a green light. He got fed up and drove away because traffic was building up behind us. Same thing happened when it was my turn to pay. But I didn't continue paying the machine. Just threw the correct amount in and went on my way. I never got a green light.

Thanks for the info. Never been to Florida, one of the few I have missed. Doesn't make me want to go there.

We ordered a Sunpass ahead of our vacation there. I was just talking to my aunt who is going to Key West this winter for a week- I recommended she get one for the rental car and just discard it afterwards. $5 is worth a lot of aggravation.

JAXFL wrote:Wait until you get to Miami area... they just take your picture there and mail you a ticket (toll fee) for you to mail back to them. I did not even know I was on a toll road and ended up with 3 of them.Do they include a return postage paid envelope for your payment ? :R

BEWARE ... Kissimmee & Orlando - toll roads | Good Sam Community

Stars101
Explorer
Nov 20, 2014
camperforlife wrote:
et2 I understand your complaint but if you were at Walmart and gave the cashier $.98 for a $1.00 item and left without a receipt you would get stopped at the door. You can be assured that you will receive a ticket for your .02 shortage plus a hefty fine. The ticket will cost you way more than putting in whatever bill you had available and overpaid the toll. Trust me, been there done that.

Unless I read the OP wrong, his issue was that the automated toll booth ONLY accepted coins - not bills. So he only had $0.98 in loose change. Unless he exited his car and begged for an additional $0.02 from other drivers (dumb idea) he was stuck just driving away...

Try being in NY. We have those too and it's A LOT more than a $1.00 toll being collected - all in coins. Trips up even natives some days when you get in the wrong lane.
rhagfo
Explorer III
Nov 20, 2014
Newbiecampers wrote:
et2 wrote:
We are vacationing (not camping ) in Kissimee. It seems like like everywhere you go around here except I4 they hit you with tolls. You can't go more than 10 miles (some less) without getting a toll booth. What gets me is you pay a toll and your exit is less than a half mile up the road, they set these up before the off ramp to make sure they get you more than once.

Then there are the unmanned ones. Watch out for these because they only accept coins, you can't back up. I threw in 98cents of the $1.00 fee and got my picture taken ( in a rental car) so make sure you smile. Can't wait for that added bill to our trip.

Just about every intersection has ticket cameras. You will see many people being added to the states scrap book. These intersections are much bigger than those in my home town and take you twice as long to get through. Just a suggestion ... If the light turns yellow do everything you can to stop. I suspect I received a token of the local authorities appreciation here as well.

It kind of grinds you after spending all the money we are in local restaurants, universal studios, Epcot, stores, etc. It keeps you on your toes. Then the locals get upset because your leery of doing something wrong on their roads and you aren't moving fast enough for them, even though your doing the speed limit. Many 1 finger salutes.

Now I know why we camp.

Bolded part:

Then voice your displeasure with their policies and stop spending all the money. Florida would get the message pretty quick if all the tourist money started to dry up.

I wish U.S. citizens would realize the huge piece of power they have at their disposal: their wallet, and the power to not open it.

This is spreading to cost!

Not only do business get tourist dollars the state does also. This is what Hotel taxes are for, and toll roads, those that use pay.
I would much rather take the Florida turnpike from Orlando to Miami than I95! yes it cost about $16, but just the right amount of traffic.

Just got back from a trip to NYC, on a $269 a night room paid just over $43 in taxes! I was glad it was a Business trip.
Newbiecampers
Explorer
Nov 20, 2014
et2 wrote:
We are vacationing (not camping ) in Kissimee. It seems like like everywhere you go around here except I4 they hit you with tolls. You can't go more than 10 miles (some less) without getting a toll booth. What gets me is you pay a toll and your exit is less than a half mile up the road, they set these up before the off ramp to make sure they get you more than once.

Then there are the unmanned ones. Watch out for these because they only accept coins, you can't back up. I threw in 98cents of the $1.00 fee and got my picture taken ( in a rental car) so make sure you smile. Can't wait for that added bill to our trip.

Just about every intersection has ticket cameras. You will see many people being added to the states scrap book. These intersections are much bigger than those in my home town and take you twice as long to get through. Just a suggestion ... If the light turns yellow do everything you can to stop. I suspect I received a token of the local authorities appreciation here as well.

It kind of grinds you after spending all the money we are in local restaurants, universal studios, Epcot, stores, etc. It keeps you on your toes. Then the locals get upset because your leery of doing something wrong on their roads and you aren't moving fast enough for them, even though your doing the speed limit. Many 1 finger salutes.

Now I know why we camp.

Bolded part:

Then voice your displeasure with their policies and stop spending all the money. Florida would get the message pretty quick if all the tourist money started to dry up.

I wish U.S. citizens would realize the huge piece of power they have at their disposal: their wallet, and the power to not open it.
Old-Biscuit
Explorer III
Nov 20, 2014
That's what 'John Young Pkwy' and/or 'Orange Blossom Trl' are for........getting around without using the toll roads.
Cubanredneck
Explorer
Nov 20, 2014
johnnyrv wrote:
The courts are full of drivers getting tickets from faulty toll booth cameras even with sunpass. And yes the toll booths in Miami do not have change lanes. It is the kind of service a monopoly gives. Also Miami is a dangerous place to drive after dark.

Well I live in Miami and to generalize that Miami is a dangerous place to drive after dark is a little overboard. Sure if you drive in certain areas and your in a rental car it can be dangerous but that's in those areas. Miami is a big city and just like any other metropolitan area there are going to be good and bad places. But to just generalize could be a little ignorant. Try driving around some of the areas in Atlanta, Bronx, New Orleans, Los Angeles, Houston and others like them and it could be dangerous.

Just saying.
fj12ryder
Explorer III
Nov 20, 2014
I knew there were "too" reason I've never been back to Florida: too hot, too flat, too crowded, and too many toll roads. :)
johnnyrv
Explorer
Nov 20, 2014
The courts are full of drivers getting tickets from faulty toll booth cameras even with sunpass. And yes the toll booths in Miami do not have change lanes. It is the kind of service a monopoly gives. Also Miami is a dangerous place to drive after dark.
rhagfo
Explorer III
Nov 20, 2014
JAXFL wrote:
Wait until you get to Miami area... they just take your picture there and mail you a ticket (toll fee) for you to mail back to them. I did not even know I was on a toll road and ended up with 3 of them.

If you have a rental car most include Plate Pass, you will get a bill in the mail later for the toll. You can mail in or pay on line.

If you go to Puerto Rico, and use this service expect the bill in about six months!! Most of the Florida bills come in about three weeks.
2oldman
Explorer II
Nov 20, 2014
JAXFL wrote:
Miami area... they just take your picture there and mail you a ticket (toll fee)
I always get a chuckle out of that. 'Mail' you a ticket. All this high tech gear and they send you a paper bill. That's gonna work real good when you're out of state.
tenbear
Explorer
Nov 20, 2014
Twomed wrote:
Tolls or 6' of snow....the choice is yours. :) :)

I'll take the 6' of snow. Makes for great skiing.:B :B

And, not a single toll road in Vermont. :)