As I came to a bridge toll entering the East Side Drive in Manhattan yesterday, I couldn't help noticing that the number of cars still lined up to pay cash at the toll booths was extraordinarily long. So I have to ask, why don't they have an E-ZPass?
We have had E-ZPasses in our cars for years. I couldn't imagine going back to not having one now. When the E-ZPass system first started in 1993 on the New York State Thruway, we were skeptical, as I am sure many people were. However, 19 years later, the system is now available on most toll roads and bridges in the northeastern US, going south to Virginia and west to Illinois. I have not come to a toll in these states that did not have one though.
There are two major advantages as I see it. Most importantly, it saves you time when traveling and let's face it, we always seem to be pressed for time. The E-ZPass lanes are always open. Even if there is a 'line', it moves continually depending on the speed limit in the E-ZPass lane. Most have you travel 5 - 15 mph; but I have gone through some that are 65 mph. In other words, you don't slow down at all.
The second plus is that you never have to fish around for 'exact change' or for cash in general. Sometimes you know you will be on a road where there is a toll and plan accordingly. But what about if you make a wrong turn and find yourself encountering a toll and you know you don't have any cash? Why worry your little head over such things? An E-ZPass is...well...easy to use.
When you open up an account, you put in a 'deposit' or starting balance from which to draw future tolls. You can pay cash, use checks or your checking account, or tie it to a credit card. We use the credit card option which automatically charges our credit card $25 when our balance runs low. There used to be no fee involved, but now they charge us $1 per month. This amount will vary depending on the state you set up the account in. Without a doubt, we can splurge for this convenience.
Other than a teeny-weeny fee, there are no disadvantages of having an EZ-Pass. So for those of you who do not have one, can you tell us why?
For me, Linda, it's a matter of one more tracking device. With my luck I'd become a terrorist suspect. Just kidding, sort of.
ReplyDeleteMy 23 year old son pointed out that for him, when he goes somewhere with friends, they all chip in for tolls. It would be hard for him to ask them to chip in for his EZ Pass bill when it comes... You make a good point about it being a 'tracking device'...hadn't thought of that. But for me, the ease of one less line overtakes the tracking thing.
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