Fighting this E-ZPass ticket in NJ was incredibly easy
When was the last time you got a ticket?
For me it was about three years ago, I was clocked doing 85 in a 55, ouch!
Now, my saying is if you're going to get a speeding ticket, at least make it worth it.
In that instance, I was running pretty late for work and legitimately thought the speed limit was 70 MPH, so the officer was pretty lenient with me.
[ALSO SEE: Why can't NJ simply do this to stop unfair E-ZPass fines?]
That being said, it still prompted my mom to tape this to my dashboard the next time I went to visit.
I got my first ticket in New Jersey last week, and maybe you've gotten this one, too.
In the mail, I received a letter from EZ Pass saying that I blew through a toll and that the normal one-dollar charge would now cost me $51 instead.
That's one dollar for the toll, and fifty dollars in administrative fees.
WHAT!
[MUST READ: Update on the E-ZPass scam class-action lawsuit]
I've been an E-ZPass user since the mid-2000's and always have it prominently displayed on my dash while driving.
But back in July, going down the Parkway, the E-ZPass booth for whatever reason didn't pick it up.
Now, according to the letter I had several options; I could pay the $51, report my EZ pass or vehicle as stolen, or dispute the charges.
It's time to fight The Man.
Cue The Clash's 1979 punk rock anthem I Fought The Law.
I was ready to fight tooth and nail to make sure I didn't have to pay a ridiculous cost for such a small toll.
I had my license plate number, E-ZPass transponder number, violation number as well as driver's license set and ready to go.
I called the number on the letter to fight for my case and after going through the automated portion of the phone call finally got transferred to an E-ZPass customer service rep.
Did I mention the 54 minutes and 27 seconds I spent on hold?
It felt like a lifetime.
Finally, a woman picked up on the other end and after providing my E-ZPass badge (transponder) number as well as confirming my address my fight came to an anticlimactic end.
"Alright, we've charged a dollar to your E-ZPass account, your ticket is closed."
That's it, it was that simple.
I was dreading the mountain of paper work or people I was going to have to go through in order to not pay an outrageous fee.
The woman also said there's an option on the main phone menu to enter your E-ZPass number and just take care of it with their automated system.
Live and learn right?
So next time you blow through an E-ZPass toll and get this notice, avoiding that astronomical charge is so much easier than you may think!
