EZ Pass and the Decline of Civilization

[hairysasquatch]

On two different occasions on eastbound I-90 today, once in Indiana and once in Ohio, I got behind a driver who not only went into an EZ Pass lane without an EZ Pass (thus unable to get beyond the gate and causing an immediate backup of vehicles expecting to move through at a reduced rate of speed, without stopping) but who also put their vehicle into reverse and tried to back out, nearly crunching the hood of my vehicle. Both times, it required a beleaguered toll-taker to come over from a cash booth to manually take payment and release the gate - all to the din of a dozen blaring car and truck horns in the line behind me.

People really are that stupid, apparently.

I could also mention the woman standing in a parking spot next to her vehicle smoking a cigarette under an umbrella in a downpour with her back to vehicular traffic, but that was also in Ohio, and therefore a manifestation of stupidity that was annoying but not unexpected.

[Boo]

Originally Posted by hairysasquatch

On two different occasions on eastbound I-90 today, once in Indiana and once in Ohio, I got behind a driver who not only went into an EZ Pass lane without an EZ Pass (thus unable to get beyond the gate and causing an immediate backup of vehicles expecting to move through at a reduced rate of speed, without stopping) but who also put their vehicle into reverse and tried to back out, nearly crunching the hood of my vehicle. Both times, it required a beleaguered toll-taker to come over from a cash booth to manually take payment and release the gate - all to the din of a dozen blaring car and truck horns in the line behind me.

People really are that stupid, apparently.

I could also mention the woman standing in a parking spot next to her vehicle smoking a cigarette under an umbrella in a downpour with her back to vehicular traffic, but that was also in Ohio, and therefore a manifestation of stupidity that was annoying but not unexpected.

Gates? Indiana and Ohio living in the year 2000.

[vthobby]

Did he pull out his abacus to tally the total?

Middle ages! lol

[TheFrenzy]

[Hess687]

The fact that the both of us traveled in Indiana and Ohio this past week kind of scares me.

[Boo]

Originally Posted by Hess687

The fact that the both of us traveled in Indiana and Ohio this past week kind of scares me.

[JeremyNick]

Toll roads still have gates?

I thought COVID pretty much ended all that idiocy. Just drove down to ATL and back and didn’t encounter a single gate, nor on my annual hike to Maine in June.

[jplarson]

Indiana has some of the worst toll booths I've ever had the misery to go through. The smoldering car fire we passed by the last time we drove through was on point though. The much superior I-Pass effortlessly works every time, no gates needed. Speaking of I-90, one of my old high schools is right off of the Kennedy Expressway.

[TheHeel]

Originally Posted by hairysasquatch

On two different occasions on eastbound I-90 today, once in Indiana and once in Ohio, I got behind a driver who not only went into an EZ Pass lane without an EZ Pass (thus unable to get beyond the gate and causing an immediate backup of vehicles expecting to move through at a reduced rate of speed, without stopping) but who also put their vehicle into reverse and tried to back out, nearly crunching the hood of my vehicle. Both times, it required a beleaguered toll-taker to come over from a cash booth to manually take payment and release the gate - all to the din of a dozen blaring car and truck horns in the line behind me.

People really are that stupid, apparently.

I could also mention the woman standing in a parking spot next to her vehicle smoking a cigarette under an umbrella in a downpour with her back to vehicular traffic, but that was also in Ohio, and therefore a manifestation of stupidity that was annoying but not unexpected.

What state was the plate from? I feel like that is a Pennsylvania or New York move.

[hairysasquatch]

Originally Posted by Boo

Gates? Indiana and Ohio living in the year 2000.

Yes, apparently.

Originally Posted by vthobby

Did he pull out his abacus to tally the total?

Middle ages! lol

Might as well have.

Originally Posted by Hess687

The fact that the both of us traveled in Indiana and Ohio this past week kind of scares me.

Originally Posted by JeremyNick

Toll roads still have gates?

I thought COVID pretty much ended all that idiocy. Just drove down to ATL and back and didn’t encounter a single gate, nor on my annual hike to Maine in June.

Guess I will have to travel N/S instead of E/W.

Originally Posted by jplarson

Indiana has some of the worst toll booths I've ever had the misery to go through. The smoldering car fire we passed by the last time we drove through was on point though. The much superior I-Pass effortlessly works every time, no gates needed. Speaking of I-90, one of my old high schools is right off of the Kennedy Expressway.

Indiana has the worst roads, rest areas, toll booths...

Originally Posted by TheHeel

What state was the plate from? I feel like that is a Pennsylvania or New York move.

First one was brand new red Tesla with Illinois plates. The lady got out and was waving the EZ Pass transmitter at the ticket dispenser.

After I laid on the horn to stave off getting my front grill caved in, I advised her to take a ticket and get moving because the rage behind me was building.

In Ohio I didn't catch the plate because it was a pickup hauling a commercial trailer - I think the guy thought he could cruise through and jump the fare but didn't bank on the gate. Again, after 2-3 minutes of honking horns I got out to try and tell him what to do but he had already been engaged by the ticket-taker from another booth. On my way back to the car the trucker behind me, hanging out of his door, asked me what was up - I told him and he shook his head and said "Every day I deal with this sh-t!"

On the outbound trip I was getting a coffee at a travel plaza in Indiana and the guy in front of me had an EZ Pass in his and but was asking the guy at the counter how it worked. The clerk claimed he had no idea. I said "Sir, you need to register that online with your vehicle information and a credit card before it will work." I might as well have been speaking Swahili. He looked at me bewilderedly, then set it on the counter and walked away. Even more inexplicably, the clerk told me to take my coffee for free!

[jplarson]

Originally Posted by hairysasquatch

Indiana has the worst roads, rest areas, toll booths...

But if I ever want to buy an RV, I know what state to go to! I never saw so many places selling RVs as I did in Indiana. Almost like the hobby everyone has there is to by a giant RV then leave.

[Corporal Lance]

I have driven across the country 5 times in the last two years. The worst spots for tolls are Chicago/Illinois, which you should try and time to get around rush hour.

However, I have learned a completely dishonest hack, which I use. I carry a spare set of plates for my car, old and not registered to me. Before I hit the IL/IND/OH corridor, I put them on and run all the EZ pass lanes. Sorry Illinois, you guys can't maintain your roadways with a huge Skyway toll, and I'm not contributing.

[TheHeel]

Originally Posted by Corporal Lance

I have driven across the country 5 times in the last two years. The worst spots for tolls are Chicago/Illinois, which you should try and time to get around rush hour.

However, I have learned a completely dishonest hack, which I use. I carry a spare set of plates for my car, old and not registered to me. Before I hit the IL/IND/OH corridor, I put them on and run all the EZ pass lanes. Sorry Illinois, you guys can't maintain your roadways with a huge Skyway toll, and I'm not contributing.

.

[fulltritty]

Originally Posted by JeremyNick

Toll roads still have gates?

I thought COVID pretty much ended all that idiocy. Just drove down to ATL and back and didn’t encounter a single gate, nor on my annual hike to Maine in June.

The Delaware Memorial Bridge seems to be the last one with an actual toll plaza on the I-95 route. Considering they took out the Delaware Turnpike toll booths, maybe there is hope that they will eliminate this one too.

[sonnyday]

Ha, I am driving from Cleveland to South Bend later today for work. But I rent a nice SUV for $45 bucks from Avis so I don't have to put the mileage on my car. The Indiana and Ohio Toll Systems are by far the most ancient in the United States.

[Boo]

Originally Posted by hairysasquatch

Yes, apparently.



Might as well have.







Guess I will have to travel N/S instead of E/W.



Indiana has the worst roads, rest areas, toll booths...



First one was brand new red Tesla with Illinois plates. The lady got out and was waving the EZ Pass transmitter at the ticket dispenser.

After I laid on the horn to stave off getting my front grill caved in, I advised her to take a ticket and get moving because the rage behind me was building.

In Ohio I didn't catch the plate because it was a pickup hauling a commercial trailer - I think the guy thought he could cruise through and jump the fare but didn't bank on the gate. Again, after 2-3 minutes of honking horns I got out to try and tell him what to do but he had already been engaged by the ticket-taker from another booth. On my way back to the car the trucker behind me, hanging out of his door, asked me what was up - I told him and he shook his head and said "Every day I deal with this sh-t!"

On the outbound trip I was getting a coffee at a travel plaza in Indiana and the guy in front of me had an EZ Pass in his and but was asking the guy at the counter how it worked. The clerk claimed he had no idea. I said "Sir, you need to register that online with your vehicle information and a credit card before it will work." I might as well have been speaking Swahili. He looked at me bewilderedly, then set it on the counter and walked away. Even more inexplicably, the clerk told me to take my coffee for free!

[DontToewsMeBro]

What is a "toll road"?

[hairysasquatch]

Originally Posted by DontToewsMeBro

What is a "toll road"?

A government shakedown operation - users of the road pay a toll to drive on it.

[AwesomeBrian]

Originally Posted by hairysasquatch

On two different occasions on eastbound I-90 today, once in Indiana and once in Ohio, I got behind a driver who not only went into an EZ Pass lane without an EZ Pass (thus unable to get beyond the gate and causing an immediate backup of vehicles expecting to move through at a reduced rate of speed, without stopping) but who also put their vehicle into reverse and tried to back out, nearly crunching the hood of my vehicle. Both times, it required a beleaguered toll-taker to come over from a cash booth to manually take payment and release the gate - all to the din of a dozen blaring car and truck horns in the line behind me.

People really are that stupid, apparently.

I could also mention the woman standing in a parking spot next to her vehicle smoking a cigarette under an umbrella in a downpour with her back to vehicular traffic, but that was also in Ohio, and therefore a manifestation of stupidity that was annoying but not unexpected.

Kind of upset you didn't stop over to say hi...

[TheHeel]

Originally Posted by hairysasquatch

A government shakedown operation - users of the road pay a toll to drive on it.

I think the NJ Parkway was intended to collect tolls until the cost of the project was met. That was supposed to be in the 70s.

[hairysasquatch]

Originally Posted by AwesomeBrian

Kind of upset you didn't stop over to say hi...

Lol I will be back out in a couple weeks- where you @?

[hairysasquatch]

Originally Posted by Corporal Lance

I have driven across the country 5 times in the last two years. The worst spots for tolls are Chicago/Illinois, which you should try and time to get around rush hour.

However, I have learned a completely dishonest hack, which I use. I carry a spare set of plates for my car, old and not registered to me. Before I hit the IL/IND/OH corridor, I put them on and run all the EZ pass lanes. Sorry Illinois, you guys can't maintain your roadways with a huge Skyway toll, and I'm not contributing.

r/UnethicalLifeProTips

[fulltritty]

Originally Posted by hairysasquatch

A government shakedown operation - users of the road pay a toll to drive on it.

You forgot to add the fact that it is charged under the disguise of them using the money to repair roads and then steal it for other projects.

[majestik101]

Originally Posted by Corporal Lance

I have learned a completely dishonest hack, which I use. I carry a spare set of plates for my car, old and not registered to me. Before I hit the IL/IND/OH corridor, I put them on and run all the EZ pass lanes. Sorry Illinois, you guys can't maintain your roadways with a huge Skyway toll, and I'm not contributing.

Just try that sht here in California. Report back what happens.

[asujbl]

I’ve lived in Ohio for 35 years and never paid a toll. Apparently I have no use for that road