Starting in November, the Henry Hudson Bridge is going completely cashless, my colleague Ned Rauch reported today.
For drivers who don’t have E-ZPass, cameras will take a photo of their license plates and mail them bills. The MTA said it hopes to eventually unroll the technology on all their crossings. Sounds great, right?
But is the MTA going to successfully chase down motorists for the $3 if they don’t pay it? The Thruway Authority, which operates the Tappan Zee Bridge, has struggled to crack down on toll evaders, we reported yesterday.
From 2007 to 2011, more than 1 million motorists skipped paying tolls on Thruway Authority roads and bridges and avoided paying $35 million in charges and fees, my Gannett colleague, Joe Spector, found in his investigation. The biggest offenders? Motorists on the Tappan Zee Bridge. More than 80,000 vehicles crossed the bridge without paying during that 5-year period, costing the agency $7 million.
Tell us: Do you think cashless tolling is a long-term solution? Why or why not? Talk about it in the comment section below.
(The Tappan Zee Bridge toll, The Journal News/LoHud.com file photo)
5 Comments
I say try it. Figure out a way to punish motorists that don’t pay so it is not worth it for them to ignore the bills, and reevaluate it in a year.
I also think the toll should be increased for everyone who doesn’t have an EZPass so that they incur the costs of the bills being mailed out and not the people who have an EZPass.
I think it’s a bad idea. Let’s not be so locally minded. In other cities where cashless tolls have been implemented, tourists driving rental cars have had expensive problems, FL SunPass eToll in particular.
Hi all,
I’m working on a story about the move to make all tolls completely cashless. If you are willing to be interviewed for my story, please email me at tjuva@lohud.com with your name and phone number. Thank you!
Keep just one lane cash so that travelers and those without tags can pay. The salary of a few people to collect cash vs. the price tag to try to collect these finds goes in favor of staffing 1 cash lane.
Making any place “cashless” takes away my right to use my money which-
as it states right on the bills-is legal tender for all debts public and private. I do not like the idea of money/payment being completely electronic without an option to simply hand over a few bills and coins. When I get to a toll booth, I want to hand my cash to a guy who needs a job and keep it moving to my destination.