E-Zpass A Gold Mine For Pennsylvania

New E-ZPass-only Pa. turnpike ramps hit thousands with $64 bill
By Paul Nussbaum, Inquirer Staff Writer
Posted: July 18, 2015

"At a new E-ZPass-only interchange on the turnpike's Northeast Extension in Carbon County, 4,537 motorists used the ramps without an E-ZPass between June 30 and July 13, 2015... Now, each of them can expect a bill of $64.75 in the mail. That includes a $25 administrative fee and a $39.75 toll based on the most distant exit on the turnpike... For the turnpike commission, the non-E-ZPass penalties from the new interchange add up to about $300,000 for the first two weeks."

My Comments About The Article AboveI realize the article goes back a couple of months, but it still applies for purposes of this discussion..

There are plans to add two more next year. At least those will also be capable of scanning license plates then sending bills to car owners. A few questions about that. How many from far western states passing through are going to ante up? Will those states make their drivers database available to Pennsylvania? Will they expect compensation for access to them?


It should also be mentioned the bills for the license plate read come with a 76% surcharge on motorists without E-ZPass.

A word of caution:
There's little doubt scammers will try and take advantage by sending fake bills in the mail eventually.

The obvious goal is to get rid of toll attendants. The turnpike commission claimed back in 2012 eventually this will save $65 million annually on labor costs by eliminating toll collectors. However I question if there will be actual cost savings realized for years. Is this just another case of rearranging the deck chairs enabling the funneling of money to private firms they find favor with instead?

On September 29th, 2015 It was announced by Delaware River Joint Toll Bridge Commission announced "the commission approved the $24.9 million contract at its Sept. 28 meeting... to handle cash and electronic transactions at the Commission's seven toll bridges." over the next five years. In a separate press release in July of this year the Pa. Turnpike indicated the one first mentioned above (Exit #87 @ Route 903) cost $40 million alone. Assuming each are costing similar amounts imagine how much more will be spent with each additional one as they are added in the future. This is why I question whether it may be years (if ever) before we realize the tollbooth operator labor savings promised.

Is it just me or does something smell fishy here?