Toll Booth Education Please

[Mike&Chris]

As mentioned in a previous post we are heading north next week to the Poconos and Niagra Falls. Being from NC I have limited experience with toll booths and nearly all of that is in a car where width doesn't matter. During our trip in the Entegra last year to Maine I saw that the right lane was wider at the toll plazas we encountered and in all of those there was a person collecting money. So in preparation for this trip I have a few questions:
1. Is it standard practice at all toll plazas for the right lane to be the widest and best choice for vehicles our size?
2. If you have to use the right lane anyway is there a real benefit to having the EZ Pass?
3. Are road conditions on the toll roads normally better than other highways available in the same direction?

Thanks

[ditto]

Hi mike, most have both in the wide lane, cash or ez pass. Always ez pass in our experience! Hi to Chris!

[brobox]

1. Yes 2 yes, 3 no but there are exceptions
Jist my experience.
.I always use the truck booth even if there's a line.

[Mike&Chris]

Hi Joe, thanks for the info. Where are you this summer?

[spuds]

Generally the far right lane is going to be wider. The one thing to watch, though, is what direction you need to go immediately after the booth. We've run into a couple (particularly on the MassPike) where we needed to go straight/left after the booth and doing so from the far right lane was quite a challenge (I90 to I495 in MA comes to mind as a particularly bad one).

Michelle

[Cousin Ed]

EZ Pass is so worth it. Many states are eliminating toll booths (don't worry they keep the tolls) they just bill you by mail, but it's cheaper if you have EZ Pass. If you get the pass from NY your NY tolls will be cheaper yet. Mass has signs on the Pike showing the different rates etc. Wherever they take EZ Pass the lanes are plenty wide; just get close with your left mirror and you will have no problem.

[chuckster52]

Originally Posted by Mike&Chris

As mentioned in a previous post we are heading north next week to the Poconos and Niagra Falls. Being from NC I have limited experience with toll booths and nearly all of that is in a car where width doesn't matter. During our trip in the Entegra last year to Maine I saw that the right lane was wider at the toll plazas we encountered and in all of those there was a person collecting money. So in preparation for this trip I have a few questions:
1. Is it standard practice at all toll plazas for the right lane to be the widest and best choice for vehicles our size?
2. If you have to use the right lane anyway is there a real benefit to having the EZ Pass?
3. Are road conditions on the toll roads normally better than other highways available in the same direction?

Thanks

as you get going ,some toll roads have the transponder lane..NY Thruway is one such road and don't even have to slow down..maintain speed,no booth..Chuck

[Gary.Jones]

I've lived in the south now for ~ 45 years and had the same concerns about driving up North ( my home) with the bus. I found that I rarely went through any toll booths. I got an iPass (EZPASS from Illinois) and on most interstates, I used the EZ pass lanes. I never used the truck lane or the extreme right lane. In fact, at most booths, you just look for an EZPASS lane and through you go. As others say, there are also charge locations where there are no booths at all, and you just drive through them at 35-45 Mph and keep on going.

Here is a tip. I initially mounted my EZPASS at the top of my windshield even though one place I read said that might not be a good idea because the EZPASS may not be activated by the transponder "wake-up". I would check my iPass account every night and noticed that my first 2 uses of the EZPASS did not register and I got paper bills in the mail. So I moved the transponder down near the bottom of the windshield, near where my mobile-eye is located, and that worked fine..... out of my visual field but wakes up just fine.

Now I have made a mental note of Dave Ladner's caution about Indiana Tollways booths, but I did those 5 or 6 times in the bus with no problems, but I will be more cautious next time.

Gary

[Hayman]

HI Mike & Chris, A transponder is IMHO definitely the way to go as many toll systems now have fly thru's and the transponder provides a saving over the pay by plate.

Your state, NC appears to have the best expass transponder as you can choose a compatible transponder with, EZPASS, SUNPASS & PEACHPASS. We will be applying for one soon and dropping MA. Ezpass & sunpass.

Enjoy your travel plans and hopefully our paths will cross again.

[DSL417]

I put up another thread week before last on toll booths that you might read to gain from my experience as well as others in the Northeast.

Summarizing -

- EZPass or equivalent, absolutely as it is quicker and some states give up to a 30% discount. And, at the prices for basically a semi, you'll find that valuable. You can buy the pass at many locations in each state. Take a look at the first state you'll be entering with tolls (VA I suspect).

- As to toll booth width, sure, as Gary says you can use any EZPass lane...but be darn careful because some states are very narrow (slightly more than 120" in Ohio and NY, and your mirrors are 123". MY EXPERIENCE and a $7000+ insurance payment coming says...if they offer an oversize lane, take it...it's just easier JMHO

- Don't get so absorbed in the pass or toll accepted light, that you aren't watching the mirrors as you go through, and 5 mph max

[Saltydog44]

X2 what Dave said.

We are in NC also and have the NC version. It worked all the way. I have one for the coach and one for the toad which stays in an aluminum packet so it isn't activated unless we are traveling without the coach.

We were able to move efficiently through WV, NY, MA. Just go slow enough to watch the mirrors (and the right front fender - )

[FreshAir]

Coming home a couple weeks ago from our PDI I accidentally got into the wrong lane at the toll gate, flew right through w/o paying.Must have been one of those auto EZ Pass ones. I told the DW we just screwed up and to watch for a flashing red light and we'll see if we can make the boarder. Will we be receiving a notice?
Another one we stopped at was a cash or CC pay by machine only, no attendant. We couldn't reach it with the toll window so had to get out of the MH, read instructions, and pay. I don't think the horn honks were telling us "Hi! have a nice trip". Embarrassing. Couldn't they see we were from Utah?
Pat:

[DSL417]

Originally Posted by FreshAir

Coming home a couple weeks ago from our PDI I accidentally got into the wrong lane at the toll gate, flew right through w/o paying.Must have been one of those auto EZ Pass ones. I told the DW we just screwed up and to watch for a flashing red light and we'll see if we can make the boarder. Will we be receiving a notice?
Another one we stopped at was a cash or CC pay by machine only, no attendant. We couldn't reach it with the toll window so had to get out of the MH, read instructions, and pay. I don't think the horn honks were telling us "Hi! have a nice trip". Embarrassing. Couldn't they see we were from Utah?
Pat:

Two months to catch up with wherever your mail goes. They'll find you, plus an admin fee and probably a penalty. Been there, done that.

[Mzbrandi]

Hmmmm.......will have to smear mud over my license plates when I next travel the n/e next time. I suspect they have cameras picking up one's rear plate.