EZ-Pass fines speeders?

[Born Free]

The Pennsylvania Turnpike has been promoting EZ-PASS for quite some time to reduce the number of employees. Today I was told one of the contractors complained his EZ-PASS bill included a fine for speeding because the system calculated the time vs the mileage and determined that he must have been speeding. I don't know how often this happens nor can I confirm it, but it does make sense, an automated system for speeders. Yet another device to keep you in line.

I do know that one time I accidental got off through an EZ-PASS exit and received a notice with a penalty and pictures of my car to show me they caught me. They refused to take the money once I entered the EZ-PASS toll exit, I was told to keep my ticket and I must wait until they send me the notice. They forfeited the penalties because I admitted it was an accidental error - I only had to pay the cost of using the turnpike. Of course now they have me listed as someone that exited without paying, if it happens again I will probably not be exempted from the penalties.

[FloridaPat]

1. They were suppose to be doing that for years anyway. All they

had to do was compare the entry time with the time you got off. Extra overhead, but it was doable. I do believe they caught a few 100+ mph people that way. Now it's done automatically it looks like.

[yankeedem]

2. You sure it wasn't speeding through the toll booth?

They do issue "fines" for that- my impression is that the only penalty that they can assess if you don't pay the fine is to take away your EZ Pass.

http://www.ezpass.com/static/faq/speed.shtml

It to my knowledge doesn't carry points and doesn't carry force of law, worst thing that can happen is they suspend your account, perhaps they can go to court to enforce the unpaid fine civilly.

I'm probably talking out of my ass, but I wouldn't worry.

Edit---


ezpass.com
Under what conditions can I get a violation?

There are four situations in which you can receive a violation:

Toll Evasion: When you drive through a lane without a valid E-ZPass tag being properly mounted in your vehicle.
Insufficient Funds: When your account is insufficient and you travel through an “E-ZPass Only” lane.
Class Mismatch: When the vehicle class of the tag you are using does not match that of the vehicle you are driving.
Speeding: When you travel through the lane at a speed in excess of the posted limit.

[Renew Deal]

3. That's news to me.

Can anyone confirm this? I would not use it the same way if that was the case.

[Book Lover]

4. EZ-PASS has no civil or municipal authority to issue summonses

Although they may act as a conduit, feeding information to the highway cops or whomever.

[fryguy]

5. they've been talking about this for years

in fact, when i was taking drivers education in high school back in 1985 or so, the teacher mentioned this was an idea (using the tickets back then, not EZ-Pass). it might be doable now with the EZ-Pass. but, like the red light cameras, its likely that people will get something like a parking ticket, but they won't get points on their licenses or reckless driving citations.

but there's also the consideration that EZ-Pass was designed to reduce toll takers and traffic associated with it. if this becomes a reality, it is likely that people will begin turing in the EZ-Passes, defeating the purpose of the technology, so there might not be such a push toward doing it.

[No Mandate Here.]

6. Between the EZ pass and a turned on cell phone,

they know where you are. Isn't it lovely?

The PA turnpike wants everyone to get one so they can pay living wages and decent benefit packages to fewer people. The strike over Thanksgiving was one of the least popular work stoppages in history, and the union caved pretty quickly. I imagine that they will not replace retiring employees pretty soon.

If enough of us don't use EZ pass, and the gates have to stay open, then what do they do? Heh, heh.

[SmokingJacket]

7. First step towards privatizing the roadways?

Just a thought. It seems to me that the highway system is the perfect socialist example: we all pay for it, regardless of use, and it's run by the govt. I bet there's big business dying to make a buck on the highways -- and you know how the current admin loathes socialism.

People wouldn't go for a totally privatized system, UNLESS they were trained first -- EZ-Pass the perfect thing?

You know there are also rumblings about taxing people per mile of road travelled rather than via gas use. (SUVs would benefit, plus... people get used to paying a mileage fee.)

Paranoia? Mebbe.