Thursday, December 8, 2016

No more cash at the QMT


From DNA Info:

Drivers heading from Manhattan to Queens or vice versa through the Queens Midtown Tunnel won't be able to pay cash for the toll in early 2017, according to a spokeswoman for the Metropolitan Transportation Authority.

All toll plazas of the tunnel will go cashless in January, a change that the MTA says will result in a smoother tunnel experience for all, according to Joyce Mulvaney, the agency’s director of community affairs.

The new policy will not affect drivers who already use E-ZPass.

But those who don't will have their license plate photographed by cameras installed at the toll plazas and get a bill in the mail within 30 days.

The MTA has agreements with out-of-state DMVs to send the bill to non-New York drivers, according to MTA spokesman Christopher McKniff.

The toll for E-ZPass drivers is $5.54. For everyone else, it's $8. Vehicles are tolled in both directions.

Drivers who fail to pay the toll on time will receive a $100 violation. Ongoing failure to pay will mean having the bill referred to a collections agency, with the possibility of civil lawsuits, McKniff said.

15 comments:

Anonymous said...

All tolls should go this way.

Jackson Heights Johnny said...

Who will absorb the cost of generating the bill? This would include computer related work, paper costs, envelope costs, postage etc..

Someone should calculate these costs, and ADD them to the bill under the heading of POSTAGE AND HANDLING.

Those of us who have EZ PASS have made life easier for ourselves and other motorists so if you are too lazy to get an EZ PASS, you should not only get a bill in the mail but be responsible for the costs of generating that bill, otherwise those costs REDUCE the amount collected.

OK, I see that they will be paying the FULL, non EZ PASS amount, but IMHO, the city should get ALL the money from the toll....

Anonymous said...

Let me get this straight: We can mandate every car that goes through this toll have an EZ pass, which as of now has to be registered and most will have a credit card linked to the account, but requiring and ID for voting would be racist?

Anonymous said...

A cashless society is the elitist plan to destroy the middle class. No. Tolls should NOT all go this way. Its sad that so few are willing to give up their freedoms for a little convenience. America is on a VERY bad road.

End The Fed. That is all.

Anonymous said...

All tolls could go away if NYers could get together to fill in the East River and combine all three boroughs together with local streets. I've given that dream the name of FITER Park, as in Fill In The East River.

ron s said...

What is the rate of successful collection on the non-EZ pass cars?

Anonymous said...

How will this work? You lend your car to someone, and you could be the one the hook for the toll.

Plus it means cameras recording every time you enter or leave the island. How are people comfortable with that?

Anonymous said...

All tolls should go away.

Anonymous said...

How will this work? You lend your car to someone, and you could be the one the hook for the toll.
Yes, just like if you lend your car to someone and they hit something or someone, you are on the hook for the liability.


Plus it means cameras recording every time you enter or leave the island. How are people comfortable with that?
That ship has sailed, this has been happening for a long time, cash lanes and ez pass, plus license plate scanners around the city. All semblance of anonymity is lost if you are driving and in some cases walking around this city.

All tolls should go away.
Yes, because maintaining bridges and tunnels doesn't cost much.

Anonymous said...

To the Anonymous who wrote: "it means cameras recording every time you enter or leave the island. How are people comfortable with that?"

Got some bad news for you. I've been selling vehicle tracking systems for 10 years now:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Automatic_number_plate_recognition

There are CCTV cameras everywhere, up on many lampposts and bridge overpasses. And those boxes on the back of NYPD cars - usually a pair on either side of the trunk - have ANPR-equipped cameras.

The only difference here is that they're monetizing license plate data in a new way.

As far as collections, I haven't seen numbers, but have noticed a number of E-ZPass collection notices addressed to former residents stacked up in the foyer of my building.

Anonymous said...

Isn't cash legal tender for all debts PUBLIC and private?

Anonymous said...

Buy stock in the company that makes those heavy plastic license plate covers. I predict a massive spike in sales....

Anonymous said...

>Yes, just like if you lend your car to someone and they hit something or someone, you are on the hook for the liability.

Not at all, it's the driver's responsibility, not the car owner.

Anonymous said...

Get the plate covers. I will write you a $110 parking summons for obstructed plate when you are parked. Then when you drive you'll get a mover,fine + points on yer license.......

Camel bladder said...

They will NEVER NEVER NEVER give up the tolls in NY. They can't. The bridge and tunnel tolls is what allows the MTA bus and subway system to maintain its system of over spending,corruption, union feather bedding and other horrific waste. If not for the tolls and the taxes on your phone bill and paycheck the fare for the subway would be 12 or 15 dollars. Remember, of that 6 or 8 dollar tunnel toll only about 3 dollars is needed to maintain the tunnel or bridge. The remainder goes to the subway/ bus subsidy.
On another thought, what will they do with all those fat assed toll collectors at the tunnel? I'll bet they don't reduce staffing a dam bit.