# E-Z Pass (automatic toll payment)

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/e-z-pass-automatic-toll-payment/336168>\
**Category:** Factual Questions\
**Created:** [December 18, 2005, 2:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/e-z-pass-automatic-toll-payment/336168 "2005-12-18T14:03:49Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 4\
**Page:** 2

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**Author:** ![twickster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/ec9cab/32.png) [@twickster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/twickster)\
**Post date:** [December 20, 2005, 3:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/e-z-pass-automatic-toll-payment/336168/21 "2005-12-20T15:19:08Z")

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> [@twickster](#):
>
> Whoa, **Rocl** …

Oops – sorry – that, obviously, should be **Rick**. Just because I can’t type doesn’t mean I’m not grateful. 😉

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**Author:** ![Rick](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/9f8e36/32.png) [@Rick](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rick)\
**Post date:** [December 20, 2005, 5:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/e-z-pass-automatic-toll-payment/336168/22 "2005-12-20T17:31:16Z")

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I always wanted the nickname Rock, I thought you had gone ahead and done that with creative spelling. 😃  
No harm, no foul

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**Author:** ![bobk2](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/6de8d8/32.png) [@bobk2](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bobk2)\
**Post date:** [December 20, 2005, 5:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/e-z-pass-automatic-toll-payment/336168/23 "2005-12-20T17:44:31Z")

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> [@SmackFu](#):
>
> They could do this, but then less people would use E-Z Pass. This is undesirable because the toll authority really wants people to use it, because it cuts down on traffic and lets them get rid of expensive toll takers.

That exactly came up here in MA when introducing the Fast-Lane/EZ-Pass. The Turnpike Authority promised promised promised that they would never ever use these readings to check for speeding violations.

Of course, they also promised us that once the initial bond for the construction of the Turnpike was paid off, it would be a toll-free road. That was paid off something like 20 years ago and we’re still paying tolls.

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**Author:** ![dalej42](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/67e7ee/32.png) [@dalej42](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dalej42)\
**Post date:** [December 20, 2005, 7:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/e-z-pass-automatic-toll-payment/336168/24 "2005-12-20T19:37:59Z")

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Not trying to hijack, but doesn’t a speeding ticket have to state where and when you were speeding?

The tickets I’ve had will usually state the exact time, the exact speed, and the name of the road (with mile marker or nearest intersection where the incident occurred.)

Would a ticket which simply states that I was “speeding” on a given tollway between a length of time on a given day hold up in court?

Usually, states have much tougher penalties for a very high excessive speed. The fine and points on your license are usually lower for say 70mph in a 55 mph speed limit as opposed for being caught going 110 mph.

A ticket which says I exited the tollway earlier than I would be able to would not determine if I was going 110 miles per hour for 10 minutes and then obeying the speed limit for the rest of the trip or if I was going 70 mph and keeping with the flow of traffic during the entire trip.

End of the hijack.

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