E-ZPASS users: Is Big Brother Watching?

tom p. · 12-17-01, 05:03

For residents of MA, NY, NJ, PA, DE, MD...I had heard that the police in NY issue tickets to trucks that use the E-ZPASS and speed since there is an instantaneous measure of time and distance when the truck passes thru the toll booths.

Anyone else hear of this or know from personal experience??

Its very easy for them to track the movement of vehicles using these automated toll collection devices so it seems logical that this will be used against the motorist at some point in the future, no?

fenrir · 12-17-01, 05:32

I'm in Il and have the I pass in my car. I rarely go the posted speed limit through the lanes. So far i have not gotten a ticket. I also know people who have blown a red light and gotten a ticket and a picture of themselves going through the lights.

PrinzII · 12-17-01, 06:14

Fenrir, I also have the I-Pass and you are correct in saying that the cops here have not done that. But there are some troopers on certain tollways that sit at the end of the toll both to nail speeders.

JohnN · 12-17-01, 07:48

Possible, yes - but there would have to be something in the agreement that stipulated you could receive a ticket that way.

Considering that EZPass ticketing would be just like red-light camera ticketing, it would be a no-points ticket issued to the registrant of the vehicle. Since EZPass is not solely restricted to one vehicle (it can be borrowed or stolen) - I doubt it.

Those *%!%&^ red-light cameras are a different story. I've been hit already, and I don't like 'em. I don't mind someone getting hit for a dead red, but I was 0.65 seconds late. 65 milliseconds? That's ridiculous...

FLONI · 12-17-01, 08:35

but they never did....like has been said...you'd have to be made aware first....i mean my EZpass bill is about $700 a mth and the only thing they got me for so far was at a non-manned lane...like i mean not even an arm that comes down to make you stop...its just clear driving thru it....so the posted speed limit is 20mph...unlike the manned lanes with a 5mph,...well...with no arm to make me slow down i went thru it at 45mph(but the light lit up that my pass was read so i thought i was ok)....how i got screwed was...i kept doing it...over and over....but with the time delay between when they catch you video wise...and when you actually get the ticket being about 5 wks....i received 4 summonses all at once(in a period of 3 days)....the first saying you got busted and dont do it again...the second saying we busted u again and if you get caught for a third time we're gonna suspend your pass....and finally the final one saying your pass is suspended....

however: the fact that they all came so late and all together helped me beat it in court...so that i had to pay a fine ($100) and they let me keep it....the way i fixed those suckers is i got my job to give me a pass under the company name...and i keep mine for myself...that way if they take away the job one i still have my own.......
as far as big brother goes...you cant stop them from tracking your checking...atm's credit cards..and everything else so i dont worry bout it....i can't and won't go back to waiting in toll lines...no way!!!!!

tom p. · 12-18-01, 05:34

Quote:

Originally posted by JohnN
Possible, yes - but there would have to be something in the agreement that stipulated you could receive a ticket that way.

...you're suggesting that people would have to be given legal notice first before they could start to ticket people in that manner?

thanks.

FLONI · 12-18-01, 06:40

thay have a grace period where you get warnings for about a mth...then the "real" tickets and fines kick in....

JohnN · 12-18-01, 09:18

That's exactly what they'd have to do, Tom..

See - with other kinds of tickets (like the red light ticket) - you're basically agreeing to the state that you'll abide by all laws when you take out your driver's license and registration on the vehicle.

Different story completely with EZPass - they're a company running billing for the state/city/county. They're not enabled by the auspices of your EZPass agreement to assess fines against you, with the exception of misuse as far as not paying/altering the unit/etc.

That's not to say they can't fine you for driving too quickly through a toll booth (because that's misuse of their device). Speeding, though - I highly doubt it. And even if they did, it would definitely be a no points ticket.

Everyone gets upset about privacy - about the ability to be tracked and pinpointed throughout the day. While I can appreciate that - I don't think any of that evidence could ever hold up in any kind of court. How could someone prove that it was you driving? So what if it's your car - the EZPass isn't tied to it, and nothing prevents someone from borrowing without your permission, stealing, you losing it, etc. Same goes for your vehicle.

Too much technology can give you stress though, eh?