I miss the option of paying tolls in real time.

[ultrarunner]

The last few years bridge tolls, express lanes, etc. moved to transponder toll collection from established accounts. I guess great for commuters?

I’m rarely driving the same vehicle and sometimes I tow which complicates and bridge crossings are few and far between.

Without transponder a notice of evasion is sent generated by license plate read with so many days to pay.

Had friends from other states return home to find invoices that by date are past due…

Not at all friendly welcome home from California.

Twice received invoices in error… misread license plate.

Takes time to contest but always resolved.

Maybe it’s a California thing and curious if other states still have the option of toll collectors?

 

[Torvy]

I think they are all gone here...and good riddance, imho.

The improvement in traffic movement more than makes up for any inconvenience. Maybe the systems in TX are better.

The only times I hear about problems is from people who sell a car, but don't remember to cancel that car on the toll tag.

 

[ultrarunner]

No misreads is great.

I guess paying an occasional late fee is just accepted as part of living in a digital world with fewer human options to pay in real time.

Nothing against it except it would be a benefit to have one lane that accepts cash… at least for me because I would also have a real time receipt to turn in.

 

[Newtocvt]

No toll roads near me. Guess I’m lucky.

 

[FullMetalBucket]

Only issue I’ve had is transponder took a dirt nap going through NY once and I got hit with a 16 dollar toll. Went to the place that hands them out and they filed an appeal because of it not working. Not sure what became of it, but I got a new one.

 

[Torvy]

Only issue I’ve had is transponder took a dirt nap going through NY once and I got hit with a 16 dollar toll. Went to the place that hands them out and they filed an appeal because of it not working. Not sure what became of it, but I got a new one.

If you have that happen here, they just cross reference your license plate. If you have a valid account associated with the plate, they just charge your account the tag rate and move on.

 

[FullMetalBucket]

If you have that happen here, they just cross reference your license plate. If you have a valid account associated with the plate, they just charge your account the tag rate and move on.

That’s what I would have expected, but didn’t surprise me coming from NY.

 

[fatjay]

It's a racket, you don't know how much it is unless you check after the fact. People don't think about it.

And it gets worse, they take $75 out of your account to hold, then deduct when you go through until you hit $10. But all the while htey're holding YOUR money. They do that for everyone, and i bet it adds up to millions of unearned dollars.

It makes me angry.

 

[CliffordK]

They can have their fast pay lanes. But I think they should be required to have at least 1 or 2 lanes that take cash or credit, whether it is an automated machine, or a maned toll booth.

Or, perhaps they can give each vehicle an average of 1 free toll per month (12 a year).

I am one of the out of state people. I will occasionally get down to California, but perhaps 1 trip every couple of years. It makes absolutely no sense to sign up for a service that is used exceptionally infrequently.

 

[fatjay]

Oh, and they limit 4 cars on your account. You have to have your license plate and transponder. I had 5 on my account, and they kicked my truck off. Made me sign up for another account for my truck and it's own transponder. Also there's a fee of $1/mo per transponder, so before I was just paying $12/yr for the privilege, now I'm paying $24/yr. And i use a toll road once or twice a year.

 

[Torvy]

I think it should be unlawful for states or local governments to put tolls on US highways, especially the Interstate highway system.

 

[steve tym]

I agree with fatjay, it helps you not think about paying to drive on the roads you paid to build. Tolls on the Mass pike were supposed to go away after the road was paid for. I think that was in the 60's. Guess what.....

 

[jyoutz]

What are road tolls?

 

[tradosaurus]

Tolls are immoral and should be illegal. They never end.
If someone can develop a fool proof way of defeating tolls I'm all in.

 

[oldnslo]

Chicago area has them and if you don’t have transponder you pay double and no option to pay cash.

It does help some with traffic but is certainly inconvenient for people visiting that don’t know about the toll roads.

 

[bdhsfz6]

Almost all toll roads here and in surrounding states have gone cashless, using several different toll collecting agencies. Some have reciprocal agreements but many don't. To make it worse, the rules are constantly changing. Signage is inconsistent and you never know for sure if you are "legal" driving on a particular toll road. If you drive coast to coast, it seems you need about a dozen different accounts & transponders to avoid penalties.

I do miss the "old" days when you could chuck a quarter into the toll booth hopper and drive on.

Reminds me of a funny story that happened when I was a student going to night school. I used the Garden State Parkway in NJ and kept a roll of quarters handy for the exact change lane. As a Christmas gift, my mother gave me a "gun" that would shoot quarters. It was a hoot to just point the gun at the hopper and fire a quarter. It was all fun & games until late one night when I accidentally drove through a manned toll booth lane and stuck the quarter gun out the window. Thinking it was a stickup, the poor attendant threw up his hands and hit the alarm with his foot. Took about a half hour to explain my way out of that one.

 

[LittleBittyBigJohn]

I hate toll roads in general. They make no sense, what are we paying road taxes for if it's not for the roads we drive on?

 

[dodge man]

It was during Covid they shut down the toll booths in Illinois and never reopened them. You have to be aware when you go through these things no matter what state a go out there and pay or like already said they just keep stacking up late fees.

 

[jyoutz]

It was during Covid they shut down the toll booths in Illinois and never reopened them. You have to be aware when you go through these things no matter what state a go out there and pay or like already said they just keep stacking up late fees.

What happens if you don’t live in that state and ignore the bills?

 

[dodge man]

What happens if you don’t live in that state and ignore the bills?

Swat team kicks in your front door. The real answer probably nothing until you get pulled over.