Parkway Makes Change

WOODBRIDGE — Check under the couch cushions, clean out your pockets and raid those piggy banks. Change is coming to the way tolls are collected on the Garden State Parkway.
On Mon., Oct. 17 motorists on the Parkway using the exact change lanes without paying the proper toll will be photographed and fined a $50 administrative fee.
A New Jersey Turnpike Authority (NJTA) Advisory states, “Starting Oct. 17, video technology will be used to enforce toll collection in the exact change lanes of the Garden State Parkway.”
Toll scofflaws who hear the siren call of a chance to bolt from the booth without throwing in their change will have a video image of their license plates recorded. The owner of the vehicle will then receive a notice for the cost of the toll, plus a $50 administrative fee.
In previous practice where a toll plaza was unmanned, motorists without EZPass or exact change were able to go through the exact change lane and send their toll in by mail. That is no longer the case.
According to a report from the NJTA, “the envelope program was discontinued because compliance was low. Of the $4 million in tolls lost annually in the exact change lanes, only $28,400 was returned through the mail.”
Not every tollbooth along the Parkway will be staffed to allow drivers who do not have exact change to pay their tolls.
“Drivers should be aware that toll plazas at Garden State Parkway exit and entrance ramps are unstaffed for several hours every day.” stated the NJTA in an announcement. “That is not going to change.”
Drivers finding themselves on the toll road without coins can obtain change before reaching an unstaffed ramp plaza.
“Change is available at service areas,” said the NJTA “and in the cash lanes at the main line barrier toll plazas. Cape May, Great Egg, New Gretna, Barnegat, Toms River, Asbury Park, Raritan, Union, Essex, Bergen and Pascack – are always staffed.”
Motorists who place the exact change into the basket and do not receive a “paid” prompt are encouraged to wait until the machine is finished counting their money. “If you believe the coins have been counted but the display never acknowledges that you paid, wait 10 seconds and proceed,” said the NJTA. “The Turnpike Authority has procedures in place to prevent false violations. If you paid the proper toll, you will not be billed.”
Drivers knowing they missed a toll and seeking to pay the owed toll but not the $50 administrative fee may have that fee waived by filling out the violation notice.
“The Turnpike Authority may waive the administrative fee for a first-time violation and require you to only pay the toll,” said the NJTA in an announcement. “Once you receive the violation notice, fill out the appropriate section of the notice to request that the administrative fee be waived.”
For those who do make the coin toss but find their coins missing the basket are reminded to not get out of the car to pick it up.
“It’s not safe to get out of your vehicle at a toll plaza,” said the NJTA. “If you have no other coins, just wait 10 seconds then proceed.”
And the fine incurred for not hitting the basket?
“If you haven’t missed paying other tolls, the $50 administrative fee may be waived,” said the NJTA.