The following is from the NY Post:
New York and New Jersey should immediately stop their tolling agencies from gouging out-of-state drivers on E-ZPass — and issue refunds to the millions of motorists who have already been cheated, an assemblyman said in a letter to both states’ governors.
Assemblyman Robert Sweeney (D-LI) said his office has been inundated with complaints from constituents who have been charged the higher cash rates while using their E-ZPasses — a situation first reported in The Post on Monday.
“They aren’t too happy about it,” Sweeney said.
The decision by the MTA in New York and the New Jersey Turnpike Authority to hike prices on drivers who use E-ZPasses issued by other states defeats the purpose of the program, he said.
“E-ZPass was created to be an efficient system over a multistate area,” Sweeney said.
The recent policy change by the agencies is bad for the economy of both states, he said.
“Adopting reciprocal discounts will encourage travel, commerce and industry,” he wrote in the letter to Gov. Cuomo and New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie.
The MTA, which operates nine bridges and tunnels, is expected to make $33 million off the practice this year. The New Jersey Turnpike expects to make about $16 million annually.
Drivers could get E-ZPasses from both states to save money, since there is no residency requirement, but those motorists would not only have to go through the hassle of changing tags when switching states, they would also have to pay a $1-a-month service fee for the Garden State tag. The New York-issued MTA tags don’t have the fee.
New York’s other road-tolling agencies — such as the Thruway Authority and the Bridge and Tunnel Authority — give the E-ZPass discounts to out-of-staters.
The Port Authority, which is a bi-state agency, also gives the break to all E-ZPass users, regardless of where their pass was issued, a spokesman said.
But under the current policy, a driver with a New York-issued E-ZPass would pay $9.05 to travel from the first to the last exit on the New Jersey Turnpike, while a driver with a New Jersey-issued E-ZPass would pay only $6.50 during off-peak hours.
Likewise, a driver with an E-ZPass issued anywhere but New York will pay $13 to cross the Verrazano-Narrows Bridge — same as the cash rate — instead of the electronic-payment rate of $9.60.
(Source: NY Post)
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7 Responses
I live in Maryland and travel to NY and NJ at least 2 times a month, I dont see a problem here. The fact remains if you buy a membership to a gym or a golf course you pay lower fares/dues then if you were an outsider. While the REP for LI has good intentions he has to realize that this increase is also crucial for the raising of fees for the fiscal year. He then has to increase the fares on the state drivers and then give a discount to the outsiders.
E-ZPass ?
Or
E-ZMoney?
As a NJ resithat travels often to NY I am affected by this. I think at a minimum if you live in the tri-state area you should always get the discount.
#1 this is not a club or a gym its public roadway, i cant believe for once i agree with a democrat gosh, help me!
Its public highway run and operated by the Port Authority that can decide on certain fees. A public golf course has a memebership and privilege with it at reduced fees. Also each state that sells EZ pass has different fees to sign up. In some states they are free some have a monthly whether u use the device or not. With that said it their by can decide who to charge certain fees or discounts at its own discretion.
#5 — it is a gov’t agency and they cannot be arbitrary. They must be fair.
Chein again it is a gvmt hwy run by the port authority the citizens of NY NJ ready pay taxes towards it out of state residents don’t. Therefore they can decide what to charge. A college has the right to charge in and out oif state resident different fees too. Its not a hard concept. While the whole thing is rip off they can still charge appropriate fees to different residents