Dear PTC: Your E-ZPass readers suck

[hbelkins]

AFAIK, West Virginia doesn't offer the option to view your account online. In fact, they don't even mail out statements to individual customers unless you specifically request it. I did request it earlier this year and it's probably a good thing, since I had a statement that I could copy and mail in with my appeal forms.

[hbelkins]

As a postmortem, I received two letters (in two separate envelopes with two separate passes through the postage meter) saying my appeal was successful.

[hbelkins]

And as a postmortem to the postmortem, my most recent WV Turnpike statement didn't show anything being deducted from my account after Pennsylvania accepted my appeal. So I guess I got a free ride on PA Turnpike 43 -- well, free except for the cost of a stamp.

[Michael in Philly]

Out of curiousity, can you view your EZ-Pass transponder tolls paids online for other agencies?  We can do so in Illinois for I-Pass:
https://www.getipass.com/ipass/LoginPin.jsp
We can see the entire history of tolls we've paid.

You can, with a Pennsylvania Turnpike E-Z Pass account.

[hbelkins]

And another update: I used my E-ZPass in four toll plazas on the NY Thruway today. It appeared to have been read properly at all four locations. Interesting that all were 5 mph plazas except where I exited at Exit 42 (NY 14) where it was a 20 mph plaza.

[Jim]

And another update: I used my E-ZPass in four toll plazas on the NY Thruway today. It appeared to have been read properly at all four locations. Interesting that all were 5 mph plazas except where I exited at Exit 42 (NY 14) where it was a 20 mph plaza.

My experience with the 5 MPH vs. 20 MPH lanes is that NYSTA will install 20 MPH lanes in places where the lane is a full-time dedicated E-ZPass, traffic can safely negotiate at 20 MPH+ even when the plaza is busy, and it is in a location where no toll takers will need to walk across that lane to get to a toll booth.  The rightmost lanes at the Canaan plaza eastbound between B2 and B3, the rightmost lane at B1 exiting to I-90, the rightmost lane entering at Exit 24, and the rightmost lane exiting at Exit 27 are the 20 MPH lanes I use regularly.

It amazes me how many people still come to a near complete stop waiting for the display to change to "E-ZPass Go" even in these 20 MPH lanes.

[Duke87]

It amazes me how many people still come to a near complete stop waiting for the display to change to "E-ZPass Go" even in these 20 MPH lanes.

It's not amazing, it's perfectly logical. Many people (myself included) wait for confirmation that the device was successfully read before proceeding. By just driving through and assuming it was, you open yourself up to the possibility of assuming wrong and getting hit with a fine.

[Jim]

It amazes me how many people still come to a near complete stop waiting for the display to change to "E-ZPass Go" even in these 20 MPH lanes.

It's not amazing, it's perfectly logical. Many people (myself included) wait for confirmation that the device was successfully read before proceeding. By just driving through and assuming it was, you open yourself up to the possibility of assuming wrong and getting hit with a fine.

You'll still see the indicator as you drive through at 20.  In fact, most people who stop, stop too early and have to inch up to the point where the transponder is detected.  I think if there's a situation where there would be a concern, it would be with the open road tolling like we've seen rolled out in many places in recent years.  At least on the roads I can think of that have this capability, and I've been through a good number of them, I've never seen any indicator that my transponder was detected properly.