Posted on 07/27/2005 11:03:36 AM PDT by JZelle
Maryland transportation authorities are using E-ZPass technology to cite thousands of motorists who speed through toll plazas -- a tactic that has drivers and transportation groups fuming. Citizen Advocates for Safe and Efficient Travel, a motorist advocacy group, logged more than 300 complaints from upset drivers since July 15, when the group's president said the strategy was made public. "On one hand, the state wants [drivers] to buy E-ZPass to help traffic flow; then, on the other hand, nails us for doing it," President Chuck Jackson said. "It's a cheap speed-trap aimed at unsuspecting motorists, who are being cited for violating a speed limit that is difficult to obey and posted so you don't see it until they already 'gotcha.' Nearly everyone who called accused the state of being deceptive and sneaky in the way this is being handled." State officials said the monitoring of speed at the state's seven toll plazas is neither new nor clandestine. "When a customer opens an account and E-ZPass, they are agreeing to the terms and conditions," said Teri Moss, a spokeswoman for the Maryland Transportation Authority. "I need to stress that a motorist frequently has to be going substantially above the posted speed in order for their accounts to be suspended."
(Excerpt) Read more at washingtontimes.com ...
In other words, the regular flow of traffic.
I'm amazed they haven't yet given tickets to speeders on toll roads. They know what time you got on and off, do the math and bingo, you get a speeding ticket along with your change.
Typical bureaucrat. The question and allegation wasn't account suspension, it was speeding.
Typical bureaucrat. The question and allegation wasn't account suspension, it was being ticketed for speeding.
ML/NJ
The strictest law and order types on here will have a hard time arguing against these tactics...
Nowadays, many of the traffic laws are enforced not because of safety, but for revenue production.
Now, if they are using secret speed traps at other parts of the highway, that would be different.
Traffic tickets = REVENUE. Doesn't has squat to do with safety.
"It's a cheap speed-trap aimed at unsuspecting motorists, who are being cited for violating a speed limit that is difficult to obey and posted so you don't see it until they already 'gotcha.'"
Bull. The speed limits were clearly posted. E-Z Pass members were warned far in advance that cars were going through too fast. I'm not a big fan of Md. gov't, but E-Z Pass is correct here, IMHO.
The speed limit in the E-Zpass lanes is only 15mph through the toll.. Jeez, in Houston, I've followed cops going over 80mph through the equivalent on the beltway....
The speed limit in most of the E-ZPass lanes is 15 mph.
I'm pretty much a strict law and order type, and agree that with the info presented, this seems ridiculous and simply a speed trap.
Maryland, another democrat voting socialist state. You get what you voted for.
"Then they SHOULD be ticketed. I see people flying through there, when the speed is clearly posted."
Exactly, I go through 5 tolls a day and many of these drivers go thru much too fast. They were warned.
I don't think it's talking about speeding at the tollbooth area, but using the transponders to calculate their speed over the whole toll-road portion of trip.
And it's the easiest tax to avoid, legally.
I wish all government revenue was raised via traffic tickets without the use of sales tax, income tax, etc. My effective tax rate would plummet.
"The speed limit in most of the E-ZPass lanes is 15 mph.
I'm pretty much a strict law and order type, and agree that with the info presented, this seems ridiculous and simply a speed trap."
It' a toll booth. How fast should they be allowed to go?
Oops, guess I was wrong. Seems like they are talking about the tollbooth plazas.
The article says the speed limit is 15 mph. Im unfamiliar with the layout of the particular areas in question, is there any good reason for it being so low? Absent hairpin turns or nearly nonexistant exit merge lanes for the cash lines, it is hard to picture a reason for such a low speed limit.
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