E-ZPass is a system that actually works pretty well. In the Northeast you can drive from Maine to Virginia and not have to stop at a toll booth.
By using an E-ZPass transponder you can drive thru the toll booth without stopping and the toll will be automatically deducted from your account.
When your account falls below a dollar threshold, they automatically recharge from your credit card.
This is obviously a tremendous time saver for commuters but it's also been very effective for people who use toll booths on an infrequent basis. Any time a driver can save time by not having to stop and pay a toll, it's a good thing.
The system isn't free, you do have to keep a balance in your account. I'm assuming that the States can use the float on this money because they sure don't credit me with any interest.
The actual expenses for the State Transportation Autorities to provide toll collecting is less than providing a toll collector and having to handle a cash transaction. It's also been estimated that an E-ZPass lane handles 4 - 5 times more traffic than a lane with a toll collector.
All in all, its a good system so why make any changes? Because revenues for the Maryland Transportation Authority are down as I'm sure it is for all other States as well.
States are quickly learning that they don't have to raise taxes, which causes a furor, instead, call it a service fee and slip it by when nobody's looking.
The Maryland Transportation Authority is proposing a $1.50/month service charge on the E-ZPass account. No additional benefit, just an additional fee. Yep, charge the user for using a system that's more efficient. Call it what you will but it's just another tax. $18/year, no big deal.
Our State legislature is in session for the next three months and we should all be scared because they're looking to tax just about every service to increase revenues.
Here is a quote from one of our State Senators (Capital Newspaper, January 21, 2009). How arrogant is this statement from Sen. John Astle, D-Annapolis? "If you don't want to pay the buck-fifty, you can go through the gate. No one is being forced to take E-ZPass. A buck-fifty a month, some people spend that much on soda every day."
I'm sure most people will keep their E-ZPass if the increase goes through. It really is that good. We'll wonder some days though, where did all our money go.
Richard Iarossi, REALTOR®
Long and Foster® Real Estate, Inc.
Crofton, MD 21114
410-451-6255 Office
443-995-9595 Cell
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Annapolis MD Real Estate Specialist
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Rich Iarossi is a full time licensed REALTOR®, working in Crofton, MD. My coverage areas are: Anne Arundel, Prince George’s, Howard, Calvert, Queen Anne, and Baltimore City and County. I specialize in residential real estate, working with both buyers and sellers. Use the registration free search on my website at www.RichSellsHomes.com. If you’re not already working with a REALTOR®...I can help. Call me at 443-995-9595 (Cell) or 410-451-6255 (Office).
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Very cool! Driving in your area is a pain for me since we have no tolls in our area!
Your friend in Charlottesville, VA
Charles McDonald
Hi Richard:
In NJ, we're already paying a monthly charge for E-ZPass...
I don't care what it costs. I want it. My drive to the beltway via the Greenway and Toll Road is one hour. Down Leesburg pike ads 30 minutes. My time is worth a lot more than $3 an hour.
I love the Greenway.
Charles, I wish it were so here too.
Toula, I understand that even though you can go from Maine to Virginia, each State controls their own
E-ZPass system. Just one more "service charge."
Lenn, That's exactly the point. They know they have an almost guaranteed revenue source because most people won't give it up. They'll just pay.
Rich,
I use it all the time on the PA Turnpike. I love it when some guy zips past me at 85 and I get to the toll booth, I zip by him while he's sitting in line. I've used it in Jersey and in Maryland.
I still have my SunPass transponder from Florida and use it every time I go down there and rent a car.
Fred, I wish Maryland could have a 55 MPH booth like they have in NJ. Getting across the Bay Bridge, even with E-ZPass is a challenge many times.
We don't have anything like that, YET. There is talk about something like that for the carpool lane so those who only have one in the car can drive in the carpool lane for a fee.
I was one of the very first EZ Pass users when it first came out years ago. Why? Because if you want to know which pay line is the slowest, either at a tollbooth or in a store, you could have just gotten behind me! I thought that I was in heaven after I got my pass and zipped right through the lanes. I agree, my time is too valuable (Hmmmmm.............now, the economy wasn't quite the same way back then..............Hmmmm............valuable....??)
Just yesterday I was telling a co worker .. "When revenues for a city or county start to slip, due to lower sales taxes being collected or property taxes declining with lower values those entities will start to look to generate money from other sources." And I never thought of myself as a prophet. :)
Another fee here, a tax there, just gimme gimme gimme the politicians say!
Hi Richard
In Florida we have Sun Pass it works great and it fast, no lines.
Good luck and Success
Lou Ludwig
I have an ez pass for Florida--it does make it easier but a trip to church cost you over 8.00 in tolls plus the offering.
Shelton
You would think that the tax would have been to the toll booth and not the e-z pass.
Don't we want more efficiency on the roads.
Wouldn't we want fewer people to have to man the toll booths?
Is there something I am missing?
I live in NJ and have had E-Z pass for several years. Most of our E-Z pass lanes have a 15 MPH speed limit. The only 55 MPH E-Z pass lane I'm aware of is on the Atlantic City Expressway at the closest to AC. I guess they don't want us to slow down on our way to lose money at the tables and slots.
Richard, We have the good2go pass that allows us to byepass the bridge toll. They recently opened a commuter lane that uses the same pass but are having alot of trouble with it...