Legal Blog

Although very convenient for paying tolls and saving time, the E-Z pass requires safer driving standards than if you do not have a pass. Here in Pennsylvania, if you are caught by a police officer or toll booth worker speeding through a toll plaza at more than 12 miles per hour over the posted (and often much lower than usual) speed limit, you can have your E-Z pass revoked. First you will be sent a warning, and if you continue to break the law, the pass will be suspended for a time or even permanently revoked.

According to Carl DeFebo, a spokesman for the Pennsylvania Turnpike Commission, “[This] has proven effective. If the customer doesn’t heed the warning we have the ability to suspend their E-Z Pass privileges but we haven’t done that recently.” Currently, the state can only punish in-state offenders, but as the E-Z passes become more linked, there is the possibility that you could be cited out of state as well. Even if you cannot be mailed a ticket, you can still be pulled over by the many police stationed around E-Z pass booths, so it is in your best interest to be extra careful about your speed when driving through the toll plazas and using an E-Z pass.

E-Z Pass Driving Safety

Although you currently cannot get a ticket simply for your speed tracked by the E-Z pass, there is still added scrutiny on E-Z pass holders. You are easier to identify and hold responsible for any offenses committed while driving. For this reason, it is especially important to follow these five tips to drive safely in E-Z pass lanes.

• Slow down when entering toll areas. Even if you are out of state, speeding can have consequences that lead to the loss of your pass. Furthermore, you could hurt toll workers or police officers in the area, which would have much bigger consequences.
• Avoid distractions on the road. Distracted driving can sometimes be as harmful as driving drunk and is even more dangerous when using the E-Z pass as these lanes are more heavily trafficked at higher speeds, you can get into even more dangerous accidents.
• Be extra careful of lane position in bad weather. With limited visibility and less clear lane markers during bad winter weather storms, it is easy to drift out of your correct lane at toll plazas. This can have serious consequences. Make sure to stay in your lane on the E-Z pass side of the plaza.
• Keep a safe distance from other cars, especially around toll plazas. Sometimes people slow down suddenly around toll plazas rather than gradually, which is unsafe. You need to be prepared for this to avoid an accident. Also, inevitable someone will be in the wrong lane and need to quickly get over. If you are a safe distance from other cars, no matter the speed you go, you will be much better prepared to avoid problems.
• If you get a traffic ticket while using an E-Z pass, make sure to fight the charges. You do not want to lose the convenience of an E-Z pass by having it revoked for speeding, so you should always fight the charges in court. Sometimes you may need a Philadelphia traffic lawyer to help you fight these charges successfully. Contact us Fienman Defense at (215) 839-9529 for a free consultation to find out how we may be able to help in your particular case.

If you follow all these tips, you should have no trouble cruising in peace with your E-Z pass.