Posted on 10/17/2015 5:12:09 AM PDT by Tolerance Sucks Rocks
TAMPA, FL (WFLA) – Driving on Florida toll roads is part of doing business for trucker Bill VanEpps. “Tolls are a huge expense, and it adds up to a lot of money at the end of the year,” Bill said. He noticed a lot of mistakes with his EPass account so he switched to SunPass in January. “I’ve discovered weekly mistakes,” Bill added. Between January and September, Bill found 42 mistakes by the SunPass electronic tolling system. “My rig is a five axle rig. I’ve been charged for as many as 7 at one time. I’ve been charged for as few as 2,” he explained.
This is not just a problem for truckers. 8 On Your Side obtained thousands of pages of Florida Department of Transportation Axle Miscalculation reports dating from 2009 through 2014. Each page contains 3 to 4 mistakes and complaints. Records show axle miscalculations on many makes and models, including Toyota Corollas, Camrys, Ford Escapes and 150s, Honda Accords, Civics, CRVs.
Here is some of what we found:
Between July and August 2011, the state billed one Camry owner for having 4 and 3 axles a total of 24 times. The reports show that from March 2009 through March 2014 customers complained about their 2 axle vehicles being billed for 15 axles, on 70 different occasions.
The toll plazas with the most problems are located at:
“The Leesburg toll barrier, it’s very common to have mistakes show up going through that toll barrier,” Bill VanEpps noted. “You are referring to data that appears to be largely at least 4-6 years old,” Florida Turnpike Enterprise Public Information Officer Christa Deason, wrote in a July email. “Also, the toll plazas at University and Curry Ford are not part of the F.D.O.T. system-they are CFX (Central Florida Expressway) plazas.”
Trucker John Northrup, of Plant City, contends the electronic tolling system is so inaccurate, he is suing the Florida Department of Transportation, claiming it has faulty equipment that results in consistent over billing. following 8 On Your side’s report Northrup, the executive director of the Florida Turnpike Enterprise, Diane Gutierrez-Scaccetti told the Florida Senate’s Transportation committee in January 2014, the problem was with Northrup’s truck.
“He has so much low metal that the gradient sensor is reading more than it is intended to read,” Gutierrez-Scaccetti told senators. “We have not heard from anybody else since that news story broke back in the late fall.”
The Axle Miscalculation reports reveal the state heard from plenty of customers before and after Gutierrez-Scaccetti appeared before the senate transportation committee. “The bottom line is their system, is not accurate, it doesn’t work right,” Bill said.
How to report SunPass problems
The SunPass Call Center phone number is 1-888-865-5352. The fax numbers are 1-888-265-1725 and 1-561-470-6699. The Call Center is open Monday through Friday from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. The Center is open Saturday from 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m.
I don’t think these are mistakes. These are revenue enhancement measures.
Spot on. 100% With the red light cameras on the hiatus they had to figure out a way to make up the shortfall hoping most would just pay it and go on.
Yeah, I forgot about the demise of the red light cameras. Where can a corrupt political establishment steal from anymore? It really is getting tough all over. Cheating the public on tolls is a purely DEFENSIVE MANEUVER.
It seems rather difficult to get away with billing a 2-axle vehicle for 15 axles, though.
Not if they are not paying attention. Internet scams only work because people are not paying attention.
A lot of people don’t look at their bill. I have EZPass in NJ and it comes directly out of my credit card in automatic $25 additions to my EZPass account. As soon as my account falls below $10, zip... another $25 goes from my credit card to my EZPass.
I never look at it.
I’m going to start looking at it now, after reading this story.
I might be a victim as of this minute and still not know it.
So I am thankful for this story being posted.
As for those in Florida, I bet there are many like me who just don’t know what they are paying for tolls.
I just checked my NJ EZPass. I don’t see any over-charges and no charges for trips I didn’t make. Kind of easy for me because I don’t use it on a regular basis, just when driving into NYC (seldom) and down to Virginia occasionally.
What I did just learn is that they upped the toll AGAIN on the Lincoln Tunnel. It used to be $5 for the HOV pass (3 or more people in the car)... now its $5.75. ($14 standard toll)
Anyway, thanks again for posting this article. I’m going to keep my eye on my EZPass account from now on.
Your post reminds me of a guy that was caught riding the HOV lane in Long Island with a dummy in the passenger side of his car.
Anyone who’s had to deal with LIExpressway tieups would understand the temptation to do something like that.
I had to laugh when I saw that story.
Same story happened on rt66 going into DC morning rush-hour.
Somebody had a cardboard cutout of a person in the passenger seat.
oh the red light cam scam is still going on. Right now its speeding cams in school zones that are hidden in vehicles or concealed otherwise. The companies offering this service have a pretty good scam going on. They install the cams free then split the money with the municipalities but If they don't have enough violations though the municipalities get penalized and it can get hefty quick. That's the reason they are getting sneaky about hidinhpg them or making them mobile in vehicles. To add insult to injury the company donates money to the decsion makers campaigns or treats them to a nice dinner or some other enticement. That $hit should be outlawed.
That $hit should be outlawed.
Sounds like some pols need a lead donation.
I think both of you are on target: I would not “look at” the monthly list closely UNLESS I had been taught (or told by something like this) that there were thousands of mistakes being made. Most in the state’s favor apparently (more expensive tolls being charged).
I am with you on this one. Of all the “missbills” only about one percent , if that many, will bother to check their bills. Most just pay the amount listed at the bottom.
Why do you think the State went to Sun Pass?
Thanks very much for this thread I had to contact them anyway,this made it real easy.
I can't remember what the total cost was ($25-$35), but it was worth it not having to stop.
Thank God we don’t have toll roads in Alaska. Also none in our winter home of Arizona. And none driving between the two.
Be thankful about the $25 auto charge. In Texas, TXDOT bills $40 if you have your card set up on auto charge. Has to be a whole lot of other people’s money sitting in their account. We’re just occasional users so don’t do auto charge and only add $15 or so when we get a notice that there is none left in the account.
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