MDTA Executive Director Kevin Reigrut told 11 News in a statement, "MDTA is always exploring ways to improve the level of customer service Marylanders deserve, and these new contracts will help modernize the way we do business."
"The only issue with that is, if you really do get rid of the cash, all people have not converted over to E-ZPass, and to be honest, some people don't want to because of location," said motorist Tess Finnocchiaro.
Some motorists seemed split on the issue, but generally agreed it could save time.
"Personally, the times I have gone through, I think it would be a lot easier to just take a picture than just paying the cash. So yeah, I think it would be easier," said motorist Taylor Southers.
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40 comments:
so, if you dont have ez pass, is it free?
More jobs to be taken in the name of automation and a way to burden people who don't want to have ezpass in their cars and prefer to pay in cash.
More of a way to generate more revenue with less services at the expense of the driving public and taxpayer.
EZ pass was nothing but a hassle. They would charge me a toll and then send me a citation for not paying a toll that was paid. I spent hours fighting citations.
What a bunch of liars!! Say I have to cross bay bridge one time a year for a yearly visit at Baltimore veterans hospital. How is extorting me for a yearly EZ pass helping me as a Maryland taxpaying citizen??
You can get an ezpass from a different state that may have no fee or a lesser fee than a MD ezpass. My ez passes (4) are from DE.
Who was asked? Were MD motorists consulted? Was a poll taken? WHO MAKES THESE DECISIONS!!
Can we expect a toll decrease because the State of MD is saving money? NO, as a matter of fact the state won’t even commit to not having a toll INCREASE when this is implemented.
The People’s Republic of MD...
Do away with cash all together! Sure would cut down on robbery, mugging, drug dealing, prostitution.
3:48. The article says that they will charge you one and a half times the price of the toll.
4:42 Sounds like ID 10 T error. Have had multiple EZ Pass accounts for over 15 years and only had 1 issue when the RFID chip failed. They erased the penalty and sent me new units free of charge.
I gave up ez pass for the same reason.
No. You'll get mailed a bill, like they do in VA, and have to pay an administration fee. They will get your information from the tag readers that will be in place.
Will not happen.
6:26 What if you are traveling on an extended vacation or to a second home that is not where the vehicle is registered? That mailed invoice becomes a fine because it is not paid within 30 days.
You stupid shorebilly's get with the rest of the modern world and get EZ Pass.
You can see mobile RF ID scanners on the side of 50 and 90 where there are no tolls just to track people.
The state has turned into a racket. I got a $40 ticket in the mail for a "Work zone" speeding ticket. I looked at the date and it was apparently a day I was going to a meeting in Anne Arundel County. Funny thing is there weren't any work zones or construction going on in that area of Rt. 50. I'm smart enough to know that the state hires off duty MSP Troopers to working overtime at these road construction sites. I never ever drive fast through any work zone. The next week after I got the work zone citation in the mail I had another meeting and I found the sign, but there was still no construction going on, but the state still issued citations with their hidden cameras.
Anonymous said...
4:42 Sounds like ID 10 T error. Have had multiple EZ Pass accounts for over 15 years and only had 1 issue when the RFID chip failed. They erased the penalty and sent me new units free of charge.
April 18, 2018 at 5:35 PM
I've only had 1 EZ Pass account with 3 boxes for almost 20 years if not longer. Why would anyone have multiple EZ Pass accounts in a 15 year period?
Anonymous said...
You stupid shorebilly's get with the rest of the modern world and get EZ Pass.
April 18, 2018 at 9:40 PM
I guess I'm one of the Shorebilly's you are referring to, but I'm pretty sure I've had my EZ Pass longer than you and used it in more locations than Douche Bags like you.
Keep drinking the kool aid.
One more assault on cash and the fourth amendment. EZ Pass and tag readers document your location and hinder your free movement. All you good little sheep, get you EZ Pass, turn on the location feature in your iPhone, tell Mark Suckerburg all your private information, and be good little citizens. As Imclain says, keep cheering!
1:58 Some of us own businesses and have personal EZ pass accounts as well. Not everyone is a worker bee.
It always cost the consumer more, no way to pay, the communist state sends you a bill with admin fees that are always much higher.
For all you naysayers, no one will HAVE to sign up for EZpass. You can currently use the EZpass lanes in Maryland without an EZpass, without penalty, other than paying the video toll rate. EZpass will mail you the video toll. All you have to do is send in the higher payment, but no other penalty or fine. The new proposal will just eliminate the option to pay cash at a toll both. The "cash" rate is/was cheaper than the video toll rate, but more than the EZpass rate. For $7.50 one-time charge for the transponder, and a discounted rate cheaper than the cash rate, anyone that pays a toll more than twice a year in Maryland will be saving money (and time at the toll booth) by purchasing an EZpass transponder. Sometimes change is good. By removing the cash lanes, Maryland will be forcing all Maryland drivers to make the smart economic decision that most of us have already made. It makes no sense(or cents)to not spend the $7.50 for an EZpass transponder. The rest that you put into your account is spent on the reduced / discounted tolls. If you are currently paying cash at the tolls, you are paying more than the EZpass subscribers are currently paying. Folks, quit being afraid of the 21st century.
April 19, 2018 at 1:49 AM:
I know right where the speed camera caught you on rt 50. It is a well posted work zone in the Severn River bridge area, and is also posted that speed cameras are in use. You not only received a citation, but also a picture of your vehicle and its tag clearly displayed. Pay attention when you drive, and slow down for work zones. The citation is no one's fault but your own...for speeding obliviously through a work zone. If you did not "notice" the posted warnings on rt 50, you probably didn't notice any workers on the bridge, either. Too busy with your phone, maybe? You need to pay attention when you're driving, before you are the one that kills somebody in one of those work zones. No sympathy for you from this professional driver.
April 18, 2018 at 3:54 PM:
You are wrong. The state collects MORE money with the toll booths, as the cash price is MORE than the EZpass price. Paying cash is stupid and costs you more. Too bad the state isn't going to allow you to make stupid decisions at the toll booth anymore.
For those who don't want to subscribe to EZpass, nobody is going to make you. Just drive through the EZpass lanes and let them mail you the toll (1.5 times the old cash rate rate). As the old saying goes "cut your nose off to save your face"
Anonymous Anonymous said...
6:26 What if you are traveling on an extended vacation or to a second home that is not where the vehicle is registered? That mailed invoice becomes a fine because it is not paid within 30 days.
April 18, 2018 at 8:46 PM:
Excuses, excuses. Get an EZpass, and your question is as silly as it sounds.
April 19, 2018 at 7:30 AM:
If you are so paranoid about being tracked by EZPass transponders, all you have to do it display it on the windshield when going through tolls, and then remove it and put it in the plastic signal blocking pouch that it came in, until you need it for another toll. The transponder can't be read when it is in the pouch. But don't get mad if you forget to pull it out for the next toll and end up with a video toll. Blame it on your paranoia.
You can get an ezpass from a different state that may have no fee or a lesser fee than a MD ezpass. My ez passes (4) are from DE.
April 18, 2018 at 5:17 PM:
Maryland did away with the monthly fee years ago. It is a one-time charge of $7.50 to purchase the transponder, and all the rest of the money in the account goes to tolls (at a discounted rate).
Go down to the outer banks, through Virginia, and you will go across a bridge that has no toll booths. Either you have EZpass, or not. If you don't have it, you will get a picture of your vehicle & tag, along with a video toll that is a lot more than the EZpass toll, after the "administration" fee is added. You don't even know you've been charged until you get the letter from the Commonwealth.
April 19, 2018 at 1:49 AM:
Really? Barrels and Jersey walls, single lanes and HUGE signs with the 55 MPH speed limit posted, Work Zone warning signs AND Speed camera warning signs, and you didn't even notice you were in a work zone. And then you "found" the work zone sign on you next trip? You are one inattentive and dangerous driver. If you think anyone or the state is responsible for your negligent driving, you are sorely wrong. Please pay attention when you drive. It is nearly impossible to not notice the single lane construction work zone where you were caught speeding. That is, unless you were completely oblivious to your surroundings when you were barreling down through the work zone. The rest of us see it everyday. You know, the ones that are more concerned with their cell phones, rather than the car they are driving down the road at 70 MPH.
Maryland sucks
Once again wrong!! The states reason is to make the consumers trip quicker while traveling over the bridge. I absolutely avoid having to go to the western shore for anything EXCEPT a yearly visit to veterans hospital in Baltimore. How is forcing me to buy a $25 EZ pass cheaper than me paying the $4 toll once a year??
11:29 I have Ez pass and I have friends that drive thru MD from up north and stay in FL for several months in the winter. So they should buy an ez pass and a sun pass and whatever pass they use in NY/MA/VT?
Not everyone lives in the same town they were born in until they die.
5:59 It is $7.50 fee for ez pass and you get 25% off toll cash price. If you only go over the bridge once a year then you should just pay by plate at the rate 150% of the toll - $6 plus admin fee. See where I'm going with this? Get an ez pass and STFU!
1:30 Don't forget to add postage and the money order fee because Mr. 1950's doesn't have a credit card or a bank account. HA!
EZ pass is designed to remove the user from the fee.
Just like taxes, you don't really get to see what you are paying for the service of driving over a certain road or bridge. Since the bill comes later, it is separated from the experience of the reason for the toll.
6:08 Partially true but technology has made the collection, handling, counting and safe guarding cash a thing of the past. Most parking meters are cashless today as well. Parking at major airports can be paid with your EZ pass or other toll paying program. Cash is time consuming and time costs money.
Why we don’t want to leave the shore to be with you morons, who are being tracked by your passes.
You are tracked by your license plate, credit/atm card, cell phone and facial recognition on government owned cameras. Even if not using ez pass, you picture/tag are recorded at toll booths. FYI, you can put ez pass in its blocking pouch when not using it.
Tin foil is cheap at walmart.
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