Out of cash at a toll booth, what does your state do for that

[roadman65]

In Florida we allow a person to pass through a toll plaza without cash if he agrees to pay the toll at regular rate within ten days.  Even so if you miss the ten day deadline you only have a nominal processing fee.  Only if you ignore the later warnings can you be refused renewal of your license or the said 100 buck fine will you get.

Plus its unlimited as I met one business man who says FU to cash all together and had a stack of pay later cards an inch thick in his hands as he pulled up to my toll lane where I work and asked me for another as he just "wants to write one whole personal check for all his unpaid tolls" as he stated when showing me his collection of unpaid tolls. He was visiting our state and did not care he had to wait for me to fill out my report, as I must do in addition to fill out the pay later cards, nor did he give a hoot about the guy behind him who's time he wasted all so he can rebel against carrying cash in his pockets.

How is it on you area's toll roads for not having cash if you pull up to a toll booth?  I heard NYC gives you an actual ticket with a fine for each occurrence even if you do accidentally end up on one of the bridges or tunnel accidentally!  I do not know if that is true or not, but two people confirmed that the MTA does not play with people being ignorant of tolls.

[Brandon]

ISTHA used to hand out little envelopes to mail in or drop off your toll.  Today, it's electronic.  You just pay the cash rate for the toll plaza within 7 days.

[nexus73]

No tolls in Oregon to worry about.  No sales tax either!  You can even grow and smoke MJ here.

Driving across the Golden Gate Bridge is cashless and they send you a bill if you don't have a transponder.  That seemed to work out well. 

Rick

[jeffandnicole]

On the NJ Turnpike (and Garden State Parkway), they used to take your license, write up your information, and hand you back a carbonless copy for you to mail in with your payment.  I'm not sure if they ever tracked anyone down if they didn't pay.  I'm not sure how they do it today if you actually stop in a toll lane without cash; maybe they still write it up the same way, or they just 'tag' your car on the surveillance video and mail you the invoice.  If you go thru an EZ Pass Only lane, most likely you just wait for them to mail you the invoice; which is the max toll plus a $50 surcharge.

On the AC Expressway, there's a phone number to call if you pull over on the shoulder after the toll plaza and stop in front of the sign to get the phone number.  Otherwise, same thing as above.

On the Walt Whitman Bridge, my wife accidently entered a Cash Only lane (she has EZ Pass).  The toll booth operator told her to pull over on the shoulder where a cop was located.  The cop told her to follow him, then he proceeded to fly around the internal maintenance roads leading her back to the toll plaza so she could go thru the correct lane.  I told my wife he was probably trying to speed away just so she would just leave the area on her own...but she kept up with him! haha

[Jardine]

I remain stunned, aghast and mortified at the numbers of folks running around without cash.

Cash will solve problems nothing else will.

After my shitty '84 Mustang, I've never been without enough cash on me to get home, no matter what happens.

I volunteer at a little municipal tourist trap venue, and we have people come thru all the time with kids in tow and not a single dollar bill on 'em.

I just can't imagine taking chances in that regard when it is so easy to get even $20 back when getting groceries at MalWart.  I'm just boggled anyone could step out of their house and drive 50 miles away with their kids and not have a buck anywhere.

[Brandon]

On the Walt Whitman Bridge, my wife accidently entered a Cash Only lane (she has EZ Pass).  The toll booth operator told her to pull over on the shoulder where a cop was located.  The cop told her to follow him, then he proceeded to fly around the internal maintenance roads leading her back to the toll plaza so she could go thru the correct lane.  I told my wife he was probably trying to speed away just so she would just leave the area on her own...but she kept up with him! haha

What kind of half-ass backward toll agency doesn't have EZ Pass in all toll lanes!?!

[kphoger]

I almost never carry more than about three bucks, and my wallet is frequently empty.  But I always have coins in the car.

[kphoger]

On the Walt Whitman Bridge, my wife accidently entered a Cash Only lane (she has EZ Pass).  The toll booth operator told her to pull over on the shoulder where a cop was located.  The cop told her to follow him, then he proceeded to fly around the internal maintenance roads leading her back to the toll plaza so she could go thru the correct lane.  I told my wife he was probably trying to speed away just so she would just leave the area on her own...but she kept up with him! haha

What kind of half-ass backward toll agency doesn't have EZ Pass in all toll lanes!?!

In Mexico, I've seen intercity buses reverse out of the wrong lane at a toll barrier because they got it wrong.  Not being familiar with the bridge layout, I'm surprised the cop didn't just have the cars behind her just back up a little so she could slide over.

[jeffandnicole]

On the Walt Whitman Bridge, my wife accidently entered a Cash Only lane (she has EZ Pass).  The toll booth operator told her to pull over on the shoulder where a cop was located.  The cop told her to follow him, then he proceeded to fly around the internal maintenance roads leading her back to the toll plaza so she could go thru the correct lane.  I told my wife he was probably trying to speed away just so she would just leave the area on her own...but she kept up with him! haha

What kind of half-ass backward toll agency doesn't have EZ Pass in all toll lanes!?!

All 4 DRPA Bridges.  And the Garden State Parkway doesn't accept EZ Pass in the coin-only lanes.

[roadman65]

I remain stunned, aghast and mortified at the numbers of folks running around without cash.

Cash will solve problems nothing else will.

After my shitty '84 Mustang, I've never been without enough cash on me to get home, no matter what happens.

I volunteer at a little municipal tourist trap venue, and we have people come thru all the time with kids in tow and not a single dollar bill on 'em.

I just can't imagine taking chances in that regard when it is so easy to get even $20 back when getting groceries at MalWart.  I'm just boggled anyone could step out of their house and drive 50 miles away with their kids and not have a buck anywhere.

Believe me its common now more than you think.

The problem is people believe it is a right for merchants now to accept all credit cards, instead of realizing that credit cards (and debit cards too) are a luxury.  There is no law saying that a merchant must take credit/ debit cards.  In fact the use of credit and debit cost the merchant money as they must pay Visa, Amex, Discover, and MC a transaction fee to accept them from their patrons. Some mom and pop places do not take them in count of that fact, and same with the carnival food concessions at county fairs and other events.

Yes, I agree I think its stupid for someone to travel thousands of miles away from home and not carry one single buck in their pocket.  Emergencies do arise and you will run into that one merchant that will not accept the cards, including toll roads which never took credit cards for the five decades or more.  The problem is everyone believes that  what everyone does in their sight each and every day is the norm everywhere!  Then they come out of state or meet a place or situation that is considered old in their eyes they now say "ignorance is an excuse" instead of the old cliche "Ignorance of the law is no excuse" which a judge will say if they try to fight a toll.  Heck I would love to see every motorist who comes into my plaza ignorant of the toll, drive in NYC, and then make a turn on red to get pulled over for making that illegal turn.  Of course they will tell the cop "Hey there is no sign saying No Right Turn On Red" so why are you citing me?"  That is where I would like to see the look on their face when they learn that NYC has the default No Turn On Red law, and that they have to pay a moving violation ticket with possible points off their license.

IMO, you as a driver are responsible for knowing what is ahead of you such as seeing and obeying signs, and in Florida most toll roads are clearly marked and even the EB FL 528 has a LAST EXIT BEFORE TOLL sign prior to my plaza. Of course most drivers claim they never saw it despite its overhead!  One other driver got held up behind a man I issued a pay later card too and even stated himself "anyone who does not have money to pay the toll should be fined $30" to me.  I actually agreed with his logic as they do hold up traffic and even as a driver I hate when the guy in front of me takes five minutes to pay a simple 50 cents toll.  And it is your responsibility to make sure you have the money to pay a toll or use a free road, even if its driving on to Staten Island to where you must pay a toll as there are no free roads crossing the Arthur Kill, The Kill Van Kull, or the Narrows. 

"I am not from the area" is the biggest excuse even for not following the road signs that I get.  Many drive past the road sign saying Sunpass Only at Florida Turnpike Exit 254, which is an exit off an exit.  The main single lane ramp for SB Exit 254 defaults into the cash plaza, but the GPS tells them to turn right so they listen to that damned device and then figure out later that "hey maybe that was not a good idea" and panic about the empty threat 100 dollar fine signs FDOT places to frighten you to pay the toll!

[Bickendan]

No tolls in Oregon to worry about. 

That's not true. Both the Bridge of the Gods and the Hood River Bridge are tolled.

[7/8]

The only toll road in Ontario is electronic, but the border crossings to the US have toll booths. I can't seem to find any information on what would happen to those who can't pay. But I'm sure the border guards wouldn't be impressed if you didn't even have a few dollars worth of cash in your car while travelling to a different country.

[Brandon]

The only toll road in Ontario is electronic, but the border crossings to the US have toll booths. I can't seem to find any information on what would happen to those who can't pay. But I'm sure the border guards wouldn't be impressed if you didn't even have a few dollars worth of cash in your car while travelling to a different country.

In this day and age with debit and credit cards?  Whenever I've crossed, I've never been asked about the amount of cash on hand.

[nexus73]

No tolls in Oregon to worry about. 

That's not true. Both the Bridge of the Gods and the Hood River Bridge are tolled.

Technically that's not true since the bridge is in both Oregon AND Washington.  Notice I did say "Oregon".

Rick

[Thing 342]

As per my personal experience, the WV Turnpike gives you a receipt and allows you to pay the toll online up to 15 (?) days later, plus an additional processing fee (starting out at $5 but increasing after the 15 days).

[vdeane]

The only toll road in Ontario is electronic, but the border crossings to the US have toll booths. I can't seem to find any information on what would happen to those who can't pay. But I'm sure the border guards wouldn't be impressed if you didn't even have a few dollars worth of cash in your car while travelling to a different country.

In this day and age with debit and credit cards?  Whenever I've crossed, I've never been asked about the amount of cash on hand.

Plus the border guards don't collect the toll; you stop again to pay the toll (before or after customs depending on the bridge; at the Whirlpool Bridge, scanning your Nexus card doubles as paying the toll).

[Eth]

I don't think I ever drove through the toll booth on GA 400 when it was there, so I'm not sure what the procedure was. Current tolls in Georgia are electronic-only.

[7/8]

Plus the border guards don't collect the toll; you stop again to pay the toll (before or after customs depending on the bridge; at the Whirlpool Bridge, scanning your Nexus card doubles as paying the toll).

I know, but I thought it's possible in this scenario that they could communicate with each other? Maybe not.

In this day and age with debit and credit cards?  Whenever I've crossed, I've never been asked about the amount of cash on hand.

My family has been asked a few times. It really depends on who you get. Sometimes they'll ask to see hotel reservations, or where you plan on staying. But other times, they might only ask two questions and let you go.

[CtrlAltDel]

I remain stunned, aghast and mortified at the numbers of folks running around without cash.

I haven't carried any cash on my person in about ten years. While I know that there are places that don't accept cards, in my experience there is always some place nearby that does. In those ten years, it has not once caused me a problem. And if one day it does, to be honest, it won't really change my habits. I don't plan my life around eventualities that rare.

There is no law saying that a merchant must take credit/ debit cards.

To be fair, though, there's no law that says that a merchant must take cash either. Otherwise the AET people are in for a big surprise.

No tolls in Oregon to worry about. 

That's not true. Both the Bridge of the Gods and the Hood River Bridge are tolled.

Technically that's not true since the bridge is in both Oregon AND Washington.  Notice I did say "Oregon".

In both cases, though, the actual toll booths are in Oregon. So, technically speaking, the tolls are in Oregon.

[ZLoth]

Plus its unlimited as I met one business man who says FU to cash all together and had a stack of pay later cards an inch thick in his hands as he pulled up to my toll lane where I work and asked me for another as he just "wants to write one whole personal check for all his unpaid tolls" as he stated when showing me his collection of unpaid tolls. He was visiting our state and did not care he had to wait for me to fill out my report, as I must do in addition to fill out the pay later cards, nor did he give a hoot about the guy behind him who's time he wasted all so he can rebel against carrying cash in his pockets.

From the sounds of things, this man's goal in life is to make other people's lives as miserable as possible. After all, it is extremely impossible to get a Sunpass transponder, especially if you live out of state.

[roadman65]

Plus its unlimited as I met one business man who says FU to cash all together and had a stack of pay later cards an inch thick in his hands as he pulled up to my toll lane where I work and asked me for another as he just "wants to write one whole personal check for all his unpaid tolls" as he stated when showing me his collection of unpaid tolls. He was visiting our state and did not care he had to wait for me to fill out my report, as I must do in addition to fill out the pay later cards, nor did he give a hoot about the guy behind him who's time he wasted all so he can rebel against carrying cash in his pockets.

From the sounds of things, this man's goal in life is to make other people's lives as miserable as possible. After all, it is extremely impossible to get a Sunpass transponder, especially if you live out of state.

I do not like it myself when I sit in a long line at a toll booth.  He should not be on a toll road if it causes him to have to carry cash. 

Plus its unlimited as I met one business man who says FU to cash all together and had a stack of pay later cards an inch thick in his hands as he pulled up to my toll lane where I work and asked me for another as he just "wants to write one whole personal check for all his unpaid tolls" as he stated when showing me his collection of unpaid tolls. He was visiting our state and did not care he had to wait for me to fill out my report, as I must do in addition to fill out the pay later cards, nor did he give a hoot about the guy behind him who's time he wasted all so he can rebel against carrying cash in his pockets.

From the sounds of things, this man's goal in life is to make other people's lives as miserable as possible. After all, it is extremely impossible to get a Sunpass transponder, especially if you live out of state.

He can either swallow his pride and go to an ATM machine, or use other roads.  We have free roads that take you where you want to go as well.  You might have to take more time to get from A to B, but hey you cannot have everything.  Its called courtesy to the other people.  Obviously he does not have to wait behind another guy himself who holds up traffic.  I as a driver hate waiting in a long line especially behind a bunch of cars who all take several minutes to do something that should be done in a matter of seconds.

As far as Sunpass goes, you do not take it if you are only going to pay for a few tolls. Its for long time toll travelers.  Its one thing to go once or twice without paying a toll, but considering you have options to get you around even with the GPS, as the signs on our roads are there warning you of tolls. If you want to shunpike, drive past it and let your electronic device pick another route.

[Jardine]

Takes all kinds I guess




unusual for me to be out and about with out at least $500 on me, and I leave the debit card home.  I do carry the activation card for the local community untended 24/7 gas pump and my venerable VISA. I've only ever applied for 1 credit card in my life, and it's funny, with bank changes, mergers and whatnot, I've experienced 1/2 a dozen incarnations of my credit account, hell, a few years ago it was a MasterCard.  And since I'm grandfathered back to the 70's with them, I'd say my application (assuming they still have it somewhere) is a tad out of date.  Anything they know about me since that long ago app they've had to acquire without input from me.

LOL, I write a bunch of checks too . . .

[roadman65]

To not get too political here, John Tesh brings up on his radio show how we should pay cash and never charge.  Also to note that when we started relying on our cards to do the work of reaching into our pockets or waiting in long lines in the bank lobby to cash the old check we used to get, we never had a debt problem.

Tesh points out that when you see the money in your hand its easier to control your spending.  When you assume that you are not spending that much cause you are only charging a few bucks here and there, it adds up little by little.  Remember who writes down in a ledger what they charge on their cards when they use them.  Yes you can guess and maybe be right, but still having cash in the hands is still the way to go.

Not to mention that marketers see where you spend your money and then decide what to sell you and before you know you have spam.  If you hang out at Millers Ale House everyday charging 10 bucks on beer, everybody knows that you like to spend money at that particular establishment.  If you pay cash everyday you go there, no one knows that you are there each day from looking in a data base.

[Duke87]

I remain stunned, aghast and mortified at the numbers of folks running around without cash.

Even someone who is in the habit of carrying cash can end up getting caught short if they're low and don't expect to be paying cash for something.

About a year and a half ago I rented a car for work and, rather than deal with the rental agency's tag and associated fees, simply brought my own tag out of my own car.

The next day, I drove in my own car over the Whitestone Bridge, and did not realize until I was pulling into the toll plaza that my EZpass tag was at home sitting on the coffee table. The TBTA cop that came over to have a word with me would have been perfectly willing to collect the (then) $7.50 cash toll from me on the spot and let me through, but unfortunately I had not stopped at the bank recently and the amount of cash I had on hand was not enough to pay the toll.

Well, turns out, TBTA does have a "deferred payment" option in situations like this, where they give you a little envelope and you can pay the toll plus a $2 processing fee by sticking a check in the mail within 14 days, or the toll plus a $1 processing fee if you pay online by credit card. So that was resolved relatively painlessly. I made sure to stop at a bank and refill my wallet before the return trip.


Point being, while I do carry cash, on occasion I do allow my wallet to run to near dry, figuring that:
1) if I plan on going out and spending money somewhere I can always stop at the bank first
2) if in a pinch I find myself unexpectedly needing to pay cash for something and I don't have enough, the nearest ATM is never too far away.

I didn't stop at the bank that morning because I was going to visit family and had no intention of doing any shopping while out, so the lack of cash in my wallet was as far as I was concerned irrelevant. Didn't even think of the toll as a potential demander of cash since I had taken the presence of my EZpass for granted. And when in a toll plaza, unlike when in a store or restaurant, "hold on, let me go find an ATM" isn't an option.

[Jardine]

at that touristy municipal tourist trap I volunteer at, we are required by the city government to only take cash or checks, same as building permits, water bills, and whatever else the city takes in $$$ for.

It's tough seeing a kid looking at the items in the display case, selecting one, and then it's a no sale because dad only has a debit card.

We've had people not be able to use our ancient (LOL, new 5 years ago) vending machines either. I noticed the vending machines at the local hospital are the same way.  If someone wound up in the ER unexpectedly, their family members better have some cash/change on them if they are going to be there for a while.

And in a related experience, I was recently at a MalWart getting groceries and the electricity went off.  Manager said there was NO WAY to handle cash for even the purchase of a single item, like a gallon of milk I needed, as he didn't have any kind of paper backup system in place.  It says on my money it's legal tender for all debts, but not at MalWart when the power is off.

To bad Jimmy Hatlo has left us, there's fodder here for some cartoons.


(My brother doesn't carry cash, BTW, but in his case it's because he is unbelievably cheap, and he's impervious to shaming on the topic too, bastid)