Pennsylvannia Turnpike Violation Notice

[grampscamper]

We just returned from a vacation in the Pennsylvania area. When we returned home we received a EZ Pass Violation notice. The amount due was $126.90. Going by the date on the notice we were travelling from Stroudsburg area to Washington DC. I'm not sure how or where I was in the wrong lane but it appears as I was driving in the EZ pass lanes. I called the Pennsylvania Turnpike office to inquire about the violation.
The person I spoke to was very kind and accommodating. He explained that there are open EZ Pass lanes & I should have gone to the right to pay the toll at a cash booth. I guess I missed the sign. He was very helpful and asked if I had the toll tickets from the trip. I explained that I threw everything in the garbage when I returned home. I suppose he could reduce the cost based on the miles I travelled on the turnpike.
He told me he just got off the phone with someone else that had just experienced the same problem.
Just thought I would post this for others travelling in Pennsylvania to watch the signs carefully so this doesn't happen to you.
It can be a costly mistake.

[grampscamper]

VE3ESN wrote:

grampscamper wrote:
We just returned from a vacation in the Pennsylvania area. When we returned home we received a EZ Pass Violation notice. The amount due was $126.90. Going by the date on the notice we were travelling from Stroudsburg area to Washington DC. I'm not sure how or where I was in the wrong lane but it appears as I was driving in the EZ pass lanes. I called the Pennsylvania Turnpike office to inquire about the violation.
The person I spoke to was very kind and accommodating. He explained that there are open EZ Pass lanes & I should have gone to the right to pay the toll at a cash booth. I guess I missed the sign. He was very helpful and asked if I had the toll tickets from the trip. I explained that I threw everything in the garbage when I returned home. I suppose he could reduce the cost based on the miles I travelled on the turnpike.
He told me he just got off the phone with someone else that had just experienced the same problem.
Just thought I would post this for others travelling in Pennsylvania to watch the signs carefully so this doesn't happen to you.
It can be a costly mistake.

I see that you're from Ontario, and I discovered that even us Canucks are eligible to get an EZ Pass transponder. Unlike the 407ETR (ugh!), EZ Pass New York doesn't charge for the transponder. All that's required is that you keep a small amount of money in your EZ Pass account (I think $25), so that when you use a toll highway that's part of the EZ Pass system, (most states in the eastern U.S.), the toll charge is automatically subtracted from your account. We travel in the states from time to time and really appreciate the convenience of EZ Pass. A further benefit is that it's accepted on the Canadian side of the Buffalo-Fort Erie border crossing, with a small discount.

Might be something for you to consider.....

Happy camping.

Thanks for the info. I wondered how the transponder worked. I may get an EZ Pass transponder if it's that easy to obtain.
I had a billing problem with the 407 that took months to resolve. I no longer use it.

[VE3ESN]

grampscamper wrote:
We just returned from a vacation in the Pennsylvania area. When we returned home we received a EZ Pass Violation notice. The amount due was $126.90. Going by the date on the notice we were travelling from Stroudsburg area to Washington DC. I'm not sure how or where I was in the wrong lane but it appears as I was driving in the EZ pass lanes. I called the Pennsylvania Turnpike office to inquire about the violation.
The person I spoke to was very kind and accommodating. He explained that there are open EZ Pass lanes & I should have gone to the right to pay the toll at a cash booth. I guess I missed the sign. He was very helpful and asked if I had the toll tickets from the trip. I explained that I threw everything in the garbage when I returned home. I suppose he could reduce the cost based on the miles I travelled on the turnpike.
He told me he just got off the phone with someone else that had just experienced the same problem.
Just thought I would post this for others travelling in Pennsylvania to watch the signs carefully so this doesn't happen to you.
It can be a costly mistake.

I see that you're from Ontario, and I discovered that even us Canucks are eligible to get an EZ Pass transponder. Unlike the 407ETR (ugh!), EZ Pass New York doesn't charge for the transponder. All that's required is that you keep a small amount of money in your EZ Pass account (I think $25), so that when you use a toll highway that's part of the EZ Pass system, (most states in the eastern U.S.), the toll charge is automatically subtracted from your account. We travel in the states from time to time and really appreciate the convenience of EZ Pass. A further benefit is that it's accepted on the Canadian side of the Buffalo-Fort Erie border crossing, with a small discount.

Might be something for you to consider.....

Happy camping.

[grampscamper]

dewey02 wrote:

grampscamper wrote:

Dennis M M wrote:
Same thing around Chicago, and other areas, on toll roads. Main lanes are iPass/EZPass. For cash payment you have to go off into a toll booth. Signage is pretty good in IL.

Does this mean you exit the highway to pay the toll?

No. You just veer to extreme right and stop at toll booth. Then merge back into the toll road traffic.

Thanks. I'll keep a better watch next time.

[dewey02]

grampscamper wrote:

Dennis M M wrote:
Same thing around Chicago, and other areas, on toll roads. Main lanes are iPass/EZPass. For cash payment you have to go off into a toll booth. Signage is pretty good in IL.

Does this mean you exit the highway to pay the toll?

No. You just veer to extreme right and stop at toll booth. Then merge back into the toll road traffic.

[grampscamper]

I must have taken the EZ Pass express lane without noticing the sign. Oh well. Live and learn. Just another memorable RV experience.

[Executive45]

slay wrote:
Best to take down the transponder and pay cash.

I just take off the plates and go.....:B:B:B......Dennis







Just kidding of course....D

[Drbolasky]

slay wrote:
If so, at the southern end of the extension where it intersects with the main line of the Turnpike, there are EZ-Pass express lanes if you are continuing south on I-476. If you go through there without an EZ-Pass transponder you are going to get flagged.

.

I travel this route now & then and yes, the "EZ-Pass Only" lanes can easily be taken by mistake.

[slay]

I'm just guessing here, but did you use the Pennsylvania Turnpike Northeast Extension to travel from the Stroudsburg area to the Philadelphia area? If so, at the southern end of the extension where it intersects with the main line of the Turnpike, there are EZ-Pass express lanes if you are continuing south on I-476. If you go through there without an EZ-Pass transponder you are going to get flagged.

Several highways in the northeast -- the Pa. Turnpike, the Garden State Parkway in New Jersey and Rt. 1 in Delaware for example -- have EZ-Pass express lanes that read your transponder as you continue without slowing down.

By the way, if you are driving a motor home and towing a car, EZ-Pass isn't always the cheapest. I know at the Delaware River crossings on I-78 and I-80 between New Jersey and Pennsylvania EZ-Pass will overcharge you. Best to take down the transponder and pay cash.

[grampscamper]

Dennis M M wrote:
Same thing around Chicago, and other areas, on toll roads. Main lanes are iPass/EZPass. For cash payment you have to go off into a toll booth. Signage is pretty good in IL.

Does this mean you exit the highway to pay the toll?

[Dennis_M_M]

Same thing around Chicago, and other areas, on toll roads. Main lanes are iPass/EZPass. For cash payment you have to go off into a toll booth. Signage is pretty good in IL.