Wasn't sure where to post this, figured that this best place for it being noticed.... Got this email the other day.... Just yet another way to tax those that want to save time and frustration at the toll booths operated by VDOT. They don't talk about the interest they earn on the money uncollected, sitting in our accounts. They neglect that they have the technology to charge higher tolls based on the state the EZPass was issued in, let alone for those state roads that are not VDOT owned. Funny in a bad way that this fee is coming on the heels of the HOT lanes opening soon in the Northern Virginia area in less that a years time. Most will ignore the email I got. What is $1 a month? NO WHERE is there a cost accounting to justify this fee....
This was an automated response to their link: Sure sounds like they don't care about opinions, just a way of justifying the new fee... They ignore the fact on the Dulles Toll Road main plaza that there are fewer lanes available to than to EZPass users and exact change users... giving long delays even in VERY off peak usage,,, This email seems to indicate that the fee is a given
That sucks. Back when EZ Pass was new here, they gave away the transponders. Now, they charge $25 for each transponder. Even if you paid $25 for yours, the battery dies and you want a new one, you gotta pay again. There's no way to simply replace the battery for the end user in them. I agree that they are just coming up with excuses to charge the fee, seeming only on the basis of increasing revenue. They shouldn't charge existing customers in order to obtain new ones (basically what their excuses are doing).
Not to mention toll roads that charge a surcharge for out of state users... In the end it is another tax on those that don't pay attention... The point of the EZPass was seamless travel. Fees will kill that, other than the cost of our DMV's wanting to recoup the added cost of the for profit HOT lanes ...
