Some New Jersey drivers who entered Lower Manhattan’s congestion pricing zone and thought their E-ZPass covered the $9 congestion pricing toll have received a surprise in the mail.
Instead of the expected $9 E-ZPass toll rate and $3 credit for Holland or Lincoln Tunnel tolls, they were billed for the full $13.50 congestion pricing toll.
Debra Kessler of West Orange said she received a bill charging her $13.50 for each of 20 trips in the New York congestion zone in January and early February, which was not the $9 she expected to pay, despite the fact she has a New Jersey E-ZPass. It also didn’t include the $3 toll credit for using the Lincoln Tunnel.
The bill offered her a $90 discount if she signs up for a NY EZ Pass. She is keeping her New Jersey issued E-ZPass and appealing the $300 toll bill.
Other drivers on social media had similar complaints about not receiving an E-ZPass discount.
What happened?
The problem is those drivers didn’t have their vehicle and license plate listed on their E-ZPass account and for whatever reason, their transponder wasn’t read when they drove into the congestion zone in Lower Manhattan.
“Any motorist with an E-ZPass account, no matter what state the account is with, will receive the E-ZPass rate as long as the license plate is listed on the account,” said Aaron Donovan, a Metropolitan Transportation Authority spokesperson.
It’s a common mistake many drivers make, especially in the case of leased vehicles or if they’ve sold or purchased another vehicle. To avoid this issue, drivers should ensure their E-ZPass account is up-to-date with current license plate and vehicle information.
Complicating the process is the New York congestion pricing toll bill has several categories to file an appeal under, including that the vehicle was sold. However there is no place on the bill for an E-ZPass customer to enter their account number to pay the toll, based on copy of a New York congestion pricing toll bill provided by a reader.
During the course of appealing the full toll charge, Kessler said she was told by three customer service representatives and a supervisor that the readers do not read E-ZPass transponders. Donovan said that is not the case.
“I can confirm that our toll detection points do indeed include E-ZPass readers,” he said.
Congestion pricing was intended to raise $1 billion in annual revenue for MTA capital programs, reduce gridlock, air pollution and crashes. It was the first program of its kind in the United States.
It is currently the subject of a court dispute after New York officials challenged a federal decision to rescind approvals that allowed it to start on Jan. 5. New York officials said they will defy a federal March 21 deadline to shut the program down until the courts rule on the lawsuit.
Stories by Larry Higgs
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Larry Higgs may be reached at lhiggs@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on X @CommutingLarry