[NJ] State to charge E-ZPass users $1 a month [future tax on air in the works]

Newark Star Ledger (via AP) ^ | 7/11/02 5:45 PM | AP

[Incorrigible]

OK You Bergen, Essex, Ocean and Monmouth county cigarette smoking, parkway driving liberals.  I hope you're happy now.  New taxes on cigarettes and now a new tax on E-ZPass and no more discount.

McGreedy actually said that he would eliminate tolls on the Parkway aver 7 years (when Bret challenged him).  Yet another lie from McGreedy.

[Focault's Pendulum]

Consider the fact that when originally designed, EZ Pass was supposed to pay for itself from toll violators, not the actual toll collections. (what linear type of reasoning was this?)

Because so many people signed up for it here in Jersey, there weren't enough toll violations to compensate for the debt load. EZ Pass here in New Jersey now stands at $400 million in the red.

Great job Christie....I guess patronage really works.

[Alberta's Child]

I don't even bother with EZ-Pass. I use the exact change lane instead, which gives me the option of throwing $.05 into the basket instead of $.35 if I don't feel that the Parkway is giving me my money's worth (if I travel from one toll plaza to the next at an average speed of 10 miles per hour, for example).

[Incorrigible]

Great job Christie....I guess patronage really works.

You're right of course.  Christie the RINO deserves a big hunk of blame on this one but McGreedy is simply remaining true to form:

If it moves, tax it!

Don't look for innovation here folks.

[TheOtherOne]

California - where they are called Freeways for a reason. I hated the tolls when I lived back East.

[Focault's Pendulum]

You're right of course. Christie the RINO deserves a big hunk of blame on this one but McGreedy is simply remaining true to form: If it moves, tax it!

I agree absolutely.

And of course, lest we forget, there was also the DMV Inspection Station Debacle.

Getting back to McGreevey, beware if your car insurance lapses by one day(proposed)....'cause the state will impound it and auction it off with the proceeds going to the state coffers. Apparently his idea of Insurance Reform is allowing State Farm to drop approx. 75,000 auto policy holders. Sounds sort of like self generating revenue.

[lelio]

How on earth do you get into $400M in debt by setting up this system?
Are the toll collectors in NJ like the ones in NY -- brothers in law of elected officials? I rememeber working at a state college in NY that had to employ a toll collector as his station was shut down. Yeah thanks for saddling us with a total moron.

[Focault's Pendulum]

How on earth do you get into $400M in debt by setting up this system?

I would be happy to answer that. Give the contract to Worldcom. Which they did. The initial proposal under estimated start up, conversion, and daily operations costs. It just as severely over estimated projected revenue.

The initial estimates were tweaked, tuned up, and generally fictionalized to make it attractive to our state legislature.

If you want to here another good one...ask me about the re-construction of the Belmar Bridge. Or as we in the area call it...The Black Hole.

[07055]

How many toll collectors been laid off due to E-ZPass? I bet very few. And they wonder why they are not saving money.

[SeaChell]

One way around this fee (tax) is to get E-Z Pass through the Delaware River Port Authority (DRPA). That's the way my husband does it and NO tax...er..excuse me fee.

[Incorrigible]

Did he call New Jersey 101.5 earlier today?

Somebody called in saying the same thing.  The announcers figured McGreedy will get him one way or another.

[Incorrigible]

I'm in New Jersey Manufacturers and I pay early!

[SeaChell]

No he wasn't the one who called but "McGreedy" will get those of us in Southern New Jersey sooner or later!

[NativeNewYorker]

This is simply a toll hike.

[Focault's Pendulum]

McGreedy" will get those of us in Southern New Jersey sooner or later!

Another reason to secede. I'll set us up a gub'mint that allows school vouchers... prayer in school.....nativity scenes....smoking on the beaches...and a new motor vehicle state inspection system that would proffer...."If I'm not coughing from your car fumes from ten feet or better....you pass."

Also anyone caught grilling tofu on their barbecue will have to serve a mandatory 5 day sentence, being re indoctrinated at a Steak House of the judge's preference.

[RightWhale]

They will tax the air you breathe to pay for Kyoto. "If you want to walk, they'll tax your feet."

[RossA]

New York had this system in place for 5 years before New Jersey - on a Turnpike 10x New Jersey's. Now they claim they are losing money because they have too many customers. Utter incompetence.

And let's not forget the attempt to enforce 5 MpH speed limits at the EZPass booths. I was trying to get Carl Lewis (born in NJ) to violate this on foot till they backed off.

[SeaChell]

Sounds GREAT to me... I'm on board!

[genefromjersey]

Mc Greevey's election was a good thing: the people of NJ need to elect a Democrat from time to time to "cleanse the palate", and remind them to vote Republican or Independent next time around.

By the same token, the Republicans are put on notice that there is a limit on how much the citizenry will tolerate; and that they would be well advised to keep that in mind.

[Bob J]

TONIGHT (6pm pdt/9pm edt) on UNSPUN!

ANN COULTER and JESSE LEE PETERSON!

Click HERE and Listen LIVE while you FREEP!

ALSO! RadioFR's new CHAT SERVER IS UP! Come on in and CHAT!