NY petition focusing on E-ZPass late charges and congestion pricing positive factors 1000’s of backers: ‘Authorized extortion’

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NY petition focusing on E-ZPass late charges and congestion pricing positive factors 1000’s of backers: ‘Authorized extortion’


A New York driver who says he’s fed up with E-ZPass tolls has launched a web-based petition to vary the system, together with congestion pricing — and has already garnered 1000’s of backers.

Among the individuals who signed the petition, which has amassed greater than 7,000 signatures since final week, declare they’ve fallen into debt over things like E-ZPass’s late charges — racking up greater than $100,000 in penalties alone from the e-tolling system.

““It’s a authorized extortion … the absurd quantity of tolls, of violations, of charges that E-ZPass prices,” petition starter and longtime Bronx resident Joel Becerra advised The Submit.

A New York driver fed up with E-ZPass tolls together with congestion pricing has began a preferred petition to attempt to deal with them. Michael Nagle

“I’m all for the transportation system, I’m all for having everyone utilizing the subway,” Becerra mentioned, “However lots of people aren’t for it as a result of it’s not as secure in any respect proper now.”

Becerra advised The Submit that his petition has resulted in a whole bunch of individuals reaching out to him with the identical concern of late-fee debt and in addition to gripe over what he and different critics name the MTA’s newest money-grab: the congestion toll to enter Midtown Manhattan.

“Pause and Reevaluate Congestion Pricing: Conduct an impartial research on the actual impression of this toll. Make sure the plan doesn’t punish the individuals who can least afford it,” the petition reads.

The petition additionally seeks higher “oversight and accountability” on the place the cash raised by tolls goes.

As well as, it requires “Clear and Truthful Pricing: Cease the shock charges and extreme penalties from EZPass. Simplify the system so everybody is aware of what they’re paying.”

“It makes you are feeling hopeless,” Becerra mentioned of the late charges.

The New York State Thruway Authority didn’t return a Submit request for remark, nor did the MTA.

“It makes you are feeling hopeless,” driver Joel Becerra mentioned of the charges. Christopher Sadowski

A perennially launched state invoice dubbed the Toll Payer Safety Act has sought to dramatically cap the system’s late charges – however has been struck down by each former Gov. Andrew Cuomo and Gov. Kathy Hochul regardless of overwhelming help within the legislature.

The measure “would threaten the monetary stability of the state’s transportation infrastructure and would shield toll scofflaws quite than accountable toll payers and the roads and bridges New Yorkers depend on,” Hochul mentioned in 2022.

However a number of New Yorkers advised The Submit they’re fighting E-ZPass late charges that begin at $50 after 30 days — and solely astronomically balloon from there.

“I get the payments, over $300 one thing a month,” mentioned Freddy Cordova, 46, who works in New Jersey, of E-ZPass charges. Valentina Jaramillo/NY Submit

“Payments can accrue with out you really noticing, after which you’ve got type of have this backlog of funds that simply present up at your door,” mentioned motorist Nico Dancona. “As soon as my E-ZPass ran out, I wasn’t eager about it, since you simply had it in your dashboard sitting there — after which all of the sudden now you’ve got $600 that it’s important to pay.”

“One time I had $1,200 value of payments simply because I had been coming forwards and backwards on a regular basis and I wasn’t checking my mail,” he added.

“I get the payments, over 300-something a month,” mentioned

Freddy Cordova, 46, who works in New Jersey, mentioned, “I get the payments — over $300 one thing a month.”

Driver Steve McCormick, 58, advised The Submit that the tolls are “an excessive amount of.

“And you then bought folks with a one-person revenue, they usually simply make it [by] each week … the place they gotta make the additional cash to handle the remainder? It’s simply not proper.”

A congestion-pricing toll machine screens drivers on Second Avenue in Manhattan. Christopher Sadowski

Becerra – who drives for about an hour to see his girlfriend in Queens — mentioned the subway trip would take him triple the time.

The Bronx resident mentioned each time he misses a toll fee, it may be a couple of month earlier than he’s notified – which means he can incur penalites earlier than he even is aware of it.

A $100 charge was greater than a thousand {dollars} due to ballooning late prices, he mentioned.

“One of many issues they do is that they wait,” he mentioned of transit officers. And “the [license-plate] readers, typically they’ve errors. They don’t [always] learn it appropriately.”

As for the MTA’s tolls, “You’re going to spend no less than $400 to $1,000 per thirty days when you’re commuting often to Queens and again from The Bronx,” he mentioned. “I can’t even think about what it could be like going to Manhattan [with congestion pricing].”

Elevated prices in transportation – be it on the subway, ferry, Citi Bike or driving – are making residents like Becerra rethink residing within the Large Apple altogether, he mentioned.

“We’re planning for our future now,” the Bronx native advised The Submit, “however New York isn’t even within the image as a lot due to all of the charges and pricing.”

“I really like New York: I need to be a part of the town, however you do what you bought to do to be sure that the residing [situation] is true for your loved ones and for your self,” the petition organizer lamented.

Becerra mentioned he hasn’t obtained a response from the mayor’s workplace or governor’s workplace relating to his petition however is planning to get legal professionals and advocacy teams concerned within the coming weeks.

“This is without doubt one of the finest cities on the planet, and it shouldn’t be like this,” Becerra mentioned.

“There are higher and extra moral methods to reside in New York, to have cleaner transportation methods, to really feel like it is a nice metropolis to reside in – however it’s turning into harder every single day.”


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