EZ Pass over Outerbridge Crossing

[nycsteve]

Posting here because its trailer specific, move if you must.

Question maybe the tt guys can answer. I pulled a utility trailer round trip between NY and Fl. Looking at my EZPass statement , my toll upon returning for the Staten Island Outerbridge crossing was 72.00 For a car alone its 10.5 That's like 6 times more! Its a 2 axel 7x14 and the pickup has passenger plates. Both plates registered with EZpass. That number sound right?

[temccarthy1]

nycsteve wrote:
Lantley ; " can see while you would wait but it really sounds like the system is flawed. Either the toll taker is undercharging or EZ pass is over charging. I would prefer that the system/employees work correctly vs. me gaming the system by hiding the transponder.
I don't want to be over charged and I don't want to wait in line in order to cheat. I want the system to be fair and accurate regardless of how I pay "

In my case using the EZPass resulted in a 50 dollar overcharge at one toll. If I were to hide my pass and wait at a manned toll to pay it wouldn't be to cheat , but to not be cheated. Whether its a situation that shouldn't be in the first place doesn't matter. The process to correct the overcharge is long ,time consuming and not fun, I would rather avoid it in the first place with a small investment of time and wait for a face to face exchange where I can request a correction on the spot.

You are absolutely right! The EZ pass system IS flawed at the NJ/PA Delaware bridge tolls. I am not cheating the system... the system is cheating me! The operator told me a pleasure vehicle pulling a 2 axle trailer should be double the TV, not 6 times the amount. And he told me to pay cash for the correct amount and block the EZ. If you let the EZ pass activate, you are being charged 6 times the amount, same as a commercial tractor trailer. Have not had this happen on any other tollways ,so apparently it is just the Delaware River authority. They obviously know it is happening because they must have had numerous complaints but to do nothing makes them a lot more money!

[nycsteve]

Lantley ; " can see while you would wait but it really sounds like the system is flawed. Either the toll taker is undercharging or EZ pass is over charging. I would prefer that the system/employees work correctly vs. me gaming the system by hiding the transponder.
I don't want to be over charged and I don't want to wait in line in order to cheat. I want the system to be fair and accurate regardless of how I pay "

In my case using the EZPass resulted in a 50 dollar overcharge at one toll. If I were to hide my pass and wait at a manned toll to pay it wouldn't be to cheat , but to not be cheated. Whether its a situation that shouldn't be in the first place doesn't matter. The process to correct the overcharge is long ,time consuming and not fun, I would rather avoid it in the first place with a small investment of time and wait for a face to face exchange where I can request a correction on the spot.

[temccarthy1]

Lantley wrote:

temccarthy1 wrote:
The secret to not getting gouged if you are pulling a TT or 5 th wheel on a toll bridge is to SIT on your EZ pass so it doesn't go off and just pay at the cash booth. It will be double your car, but not 6 times! I learned this from a NJ/PA bridge toll collector this fall . He told me if it picks up your EZ pass electronically, it will charge as if you are a commercial tractor trailer rig with 4 axles. I tried this and it works! If the toll is $1 , I paid $2 by paying cash. If I had let my pass activate, it would be $12, 6 times the cost of just the TV. Check it out!

What's the point of having an E-Z pass if you are going to sit in the cash line anyway?To Save $10.00?
While I don't want to be randomly overcharged.I want the convenience of the E-Z pass

I love the convenience of an EZ pass too and this is never an issue when you are not pulling a trailer or 5th wheel. And to clarify, on a 2500 mile camping excursion this fall, I only encountered this on the NJ/PA Delaware River bridge tolls, not interstate charges in any other state, nor any other state's bridge tolls. So beware of the Delaware River Bridge authority rates if you are towing!

[Lantley]

nycsteve wrote:

Lantley wrote:

temccarthy1 wrote:
The secret to not getting gouged if you are pulling a TT or 5 th wheel on a toll bridge is to SIT on your EZ pass so it doesn't go off and just pay at the cash booth. It will be double your car, but not 6 times! I learned this from a NJ/PA bridge toll collector this fall . He told me if it picks up your EZ pass electronically, it will charge as if you are a commercial tractor trailer rig with 4 axles. I tried this and it works! If the toll is $1 , I paid $2 by paying cash. If I had let my pass activate, it would be $12, 6 times the cost of just the TV. Check it out!

What's the point of having an E-Z pass if you are going to sit in the cash line anyway?To Save $10.00?
While I don't want to be randomly overcharged.I want the convenience of the E-Z pass

I can see while you would wait but it really sounds like the system is flawed. Either the toll taker is undercharging or EZ pass is over charging. I would prefer that the system/employees work correctly vs. me gaming the system by hiding the transponder.
I don't want to be over charged and I don't want to wait in line in order to cheat. I want the system to be fair and accurate regardless of how I pay




In my case 50 dollars. Enough to wait?

[nycsteve]

Lantley wrote:

temccarthy1 wrote:
The secret to not getting gouged if you are pulling a TT or 5 th wheel on a toll bridge is to SIT on your EZ pass so it doesn't go off and just pay at the cash booth. It will be double your car, but not 6 times! I learned this from a NJ/PA bridge toll collector this fall . He told me if it picks up your EZ pass electronically, it will charge as if you are a commercial tractor trailer rig with 4 axles. I tried this and it works! If the toll is $1 , I paid $2 by paying cash. If I had let my pass activate, it would be $12, 6 times the cost of just the TV. Check it out!

What's the point of having an E-Z pass if you are going to sit in the cash line anyway?To Save $10.00?
While I don't want to be randomly overcharged.I want the convenience of the E-Z pass

In my case 50 dollars. Enough to wait?

[Sir_Buffalo]

Interesting Tvov, I never had a problem before. I review my monthly statements. I do not disagree, others have had similar stories. To stop for cash lanes would not be the end of the world. But I have had almost the oppostive effect when stopping at cash lanes and the poor person has no clue what to do. Had to explain I only have 4 axles.......

In anycase, traveling to and from the NYC, Washington DC area is just horrible when towing. It is simply too expensive. I never really let it bother me becuase it is what it is...but its too much.

[Tvov]

temccarthy1 wrote:
The secret to not getting gouged if you are pulling a TT or 5 th wheel on a toll bridge is to SIT on your EZ pass so it doesn't go off and just pay at the cash booth. It will be double your car, but not 6 times! I learned this from a NJ/PA bridge toll collector this fall . He told me if it picks up your EZ pass electronically, it will charge as if you are a commercial tractor trailer rig with 4 axles. I tried this and it works! If the toll is $1 , I paid $2 by paying cash. If I had let my pass activate, it would be $12, 6 times the cost of just the TV. Check it out!

Seems completely random to me - I've had live toll collectors charge me a fortune, or almost nothing. Every time they have a list they go by, which seems different than the last time I went through.

EZPass has seemed to be more consistent, and actually less expensive.

Either way, what I don't like about EZPass is that you have no idea what you are being charged, until you see your statement.

[Tvov]

ADK Camper wrote:
I haven't towed my camper in Florida yet, but I had a nasty surprise when I flew to Tampa last winter and drove to Venice Beach in a rental car. I declined a sunpass from the rental company because I planned on a limited amount of driving primarily on local roads. I figured I'd just pay cash if I did encounter any tolls. But I didn't realize (nor did the rental agency bother to inform me) that there is no cash option on Florida's toll roads. Tolls are seamlessly collected electronically. A motorist won't even realize he has passed a collection point. Incurring a toll without a sunpass includes a much higher cost which is billed to the cars registered owner. In my case that was the rental agency who helpfully paid the charge and then billed it to me after adding their own charge. The moral of this story is "don't drive anywhere in Florida without a sunpass."

This is becoming common. I think Massachusetts now has photo/automatic tolls if you don't have an EZPass - it is about double the cost compared to having the pass. More and more "toll booths" are have no one there, all cameras.

[Dennis_Smith]

Crossed the golden gate, truck by it self, $7.50.. Truck and tandem axle $35.00. Couldn't figure that one out

[JohnG4706]

moresmoke wrote:
If their sensor setups are working right it can tell the difference. Crossed the Tappan Zee this summer, not realizing there is an eastbound toll now. Got a bill in the mail for the right fare.

Some places, like the tri-state toll way around Chicago, I would pay extra to not go through the cash lanes. I love the folks that have to dig through the car to find enough change.

I used to live in the Chicago area. I think this is still current, people who pay CASH pay DOUBLE what the EZ Pass payers pay.

[jfkmk]

All I could afford wrote:
Temccarthy1... That's true crossing between nj and PA, as I learned myself on he way to Hershey, but NYC crossings don't differentiate between commercial and private once you go over a two axle car. Cash would cost you even more in this case. A Honda civic pulling a tiny single axle Jet Ski trailer pays the same as a 3 axle truck.

You're absolutely right regarding the Deleware River crossings. Had the same issue crossing the 78 bridge. The web site recommends putting the transponder in its protective bag, paying cash, and getting a receipt. Now, THATS ez!

[moresmoke]

If their sensor setups are working right it can tell the difference. Crossed the Tappan Zee this summer, not realizing there is an eastbound toll now. Got a bill in the mail for the right fare.

Some places, like the tri-state toll way around Chicago, I would pay extra to not go through the cash lanes. I love the folks that have to dig through the car to find enough change.

[Lantley]

temccarthy1 wrote:
The secret to not getting gouged if you are pulling a TT or 5 th wheel on a toll bridge is to SIT on your EZ pass so it doesn't go off and just pay at the cash booth. It will be double your car, but not 6 times! I learned this from a NJ/PA bridge toll collector this fall . He told me if it picks up your EZ pass electronically, it will charge as if you are a commercial tractor trailer rig with 4 axles. I tried this and it works! If the toll is $1 , I paid $2 by paying cash. If I had let my pass activate, it would be $12, 6 times the cost of just the TV. Check it out!

What's the point of having an E-Z pass if you are going to sit in the cash line anyway?To Save $10.00?
While I don't want to be randomly overcharged.I want the convenience of the E-Z pass

[All_I_could_aff]

Temccarthy1... That's true crossing between nj and PA, as I learned myself on he way to Hershey, but NYC crossings don't differentiate between commercial and private once you go over a two axle car. Cash would cost you even more in this case. A Honda civic pulling a tiny single axle Jet Ski trailer pays the same as a 3 axle truck.