NY/NJ Dopers--I need your help, quick!

In My Humble Opinion
1

Hi, everyone.

I’m from Ohio. I’ve been living in NY since early January, but I haven’t gotten a local bank account yet. My check card–the one I can use at an ATM–has been discontinued by my bank, because I’m supposed to be getting a new debit card delivered to my bank back in Ohio. I’ll pick it up when I go home.

Here’s the trouble–I’m driving home, and I have no cash. Not that I have no money (I have plenty in my bank account), but I have no way to turn it into cash quickly. I’ve been relying on my debit card, which I can’t use now. I have one credit card, but I don’t have a PIN for it to use with an ATM.

I don’t have an E-ZPass. I’ll have to pay the toll on the turnpike, but I have no cash. Anyone here know if I can pay by credit card? As far as I can tell from checking out the NJTA (New Jersey Transit Authority) website, tollbooths accept cash or EZPass only.

I’m supposed to be leaving tomorrow morning at 6 am. What should I do?

Thanks for your help.

2

In the past you could pick up a “bill me slip” at the manned Turnpike and Parkway toll booths. They have never taken Credit Card.

Don’t forget you will also need to pay the Rt 80 bridge toll into Penn. (You always have to pay to leave NJ :wink: )

I am trying to think of how you can get cash via Credit Card quick.

What company is the Credit Card. You might be able to establish a PIN tonight if it is a company like Citibank or Bank of America. This should be worth a try.

Here is the Rt80 Toll info. Looks like it is only $.75

Good Luck,
Jim

3

Are you sure you have to get on the Turnpike?

What part of NYC are you coming from?

You might be able to cross over and get on rt80 without getting on the Turnpike.

Let me know and I can help you map a route.

Jim

4

Some supermarkets and drugstores may allow you to use a credit card for an amount over your purchase and get cash back. It might be worth asking.

5

You know what, this is easy, just take the GW Bridge into Jersey and get right onto I-80. No Fuss, No muss and No Tolls except 75¢ to cross the Delaware into Penn and then straight across Penn and back to Ohio. I did this myself back in 1992.

You should not need to get on the Turnpike or Parkway at any point.

If you need to take the Lincoln for some reason, Take rt 3 west to rt 17 North to I-80 west. Or take Rt 3 out to rt 46 to rt 80. This is a slow method, but will work for free again.

Jim

6

Hi, WhatExit–thanks so much for your offer to help me out!

I’ll be coming from the Bronx (from the Fordham University area, near the Bronx’s Little Italy, to be more precise.)

The total amount of cash I have is $1.55. Yup, that’s it, and that’s all the cash I’m going to have until I get to Ohio.

I could swear that I remember having to fork over about $6.00 coming into the NY/NJ metro area, but I’m not sure. If I could start my trip on time, that would be great.

Thanks a ton.

7

You probably paid $6.00 at the GW Bridge to enter NYC.

Going from Fordam makes your trip very simple. Just take the GW Bridge for free to NJ and stay on rt 80. Straight home to Ohio for only 75¢.

Good luck in your drive, watch out for Pennsy Staties, they love ticketing out-of-state cars on Rt 80.

Jim

8

Hey, Jim.

Thanks a ton for the advice!

I feel a lot better now.

Thanks to everyone who gave me advice or told me about possible options I hadn’t considered.

Have a great night!

9

Just ask yourself - what would Snake Plissken do in a situation like this?