What happens if you accidentally drive through E-ZPass? This common mistake can cause confusion, especially for drivers unfamiliar with toll systems like EZPass NJ. Whether you’re in New Jersey or another state, it’s important to understand the consequences of driving through an E-ZPass lane without the proper tag or account.
This blog will dive into the various scenarios, penalties, and steps you can take if you find yourself in this situation.
What is E-ZPass?
Before we discuss the scenario of “What happens if you accidentally drive through E-ZPass?“, let us know what it is. To drive across toll booths, E-zpass is used in a number of states including New Jersey.
The clip allows and enables drivers to cross through threshold booths without stopping payment, as tolls are deducted through a GPS system, as the clip is attached to the specific vehicle This facility is good on the go but it is important to have the correct apparatus linked to your account.
Looking at how E-ZPass works might assist you in not making mistakes when crossing toll booths.
Accidental E-ZPass Lane Entries
If you inadvertently pass through a section of the E-ZPass system but do not have the necessary credentials on file, what happens? For instance, several possible scenarios are presented. You may expect the following:
- E-ZPass Transponder N/A: E-ZPass usually captures a picture of the license plate of a Car that entered the toll zone if a vehicle did not possess an E-ZPass transponder. In this case, the system will recognize that the specific vehicle entered the toll zone and may issue a violation notice.
- Unlinked E-ZPass Account: At times, it is possible to possess a transponder while still, not having an account linked to the vehicle, and funds might be lacking. The system will attempt to mark your entry which it recognizes as an issue by sending you a violation notice. In these cases, the system will flag your entrance as an issue and send you a violation notice.
- Active E-ZPass Account but No Tag: In the event that a transponder tag is broken or lost or wasn’t correctly put onto your car windows, the system of your pass. This is because of the passive transponder which is not within visibility. It may sometimes charge you based on your vehicle number that is mounted on the windshield, but you may be given a violation notice.
Make sure to be prepared properly, otherwise, driving through the E-ZPass lane may incur fees and violations for you.
What To Expect If You Accidentally Drive Through EZpass?
So, Let’s break down what according to E-ZPass happens when a person drives through it accidentally.
1. License Plate Capture and Violation Notice
- What happens if you accidentally drive through E-ZPass but went in without a tag? The registered license number of your vehicle is used by the system in question in order to discern the car in question and it creates a notice of violation which is sent to the address associated with the vehicle in questions registration details.
- The violation fee is the extra fee that you will incur along with the toll charge.
- In some instances, tolling agencies could give the driver a period of time after passing through the toll to make the payment or contest the offence.
2. Toll Rates and Fees
If the camera spots your vehicle’s registration but doesn’t see that you have an E-ZPass what charges apply will depend on the state or the toll authority. What do you suppose is likely to occur? The following is a general indication(s) that has been likely to occur or happen:
| Scenario | Charge |
|---|---|
| No E-ZPass Transponder | Violation of Toll and Payment Fee |
| Transponder Poorly Linked Properly | Toll Levy Fee + Administrative Fee |
| Yes, Active E-ZPass Account Without A Tag | Violation of E-ZPass + Toll Charge Fee (Min) |
- What happens if you accidentally drive through E-ZPass? Then you will incur an extra amount as violation fees and the account will stop working.
3. Penalties for Not Paying Tolls
If the infringement is performed repeatedly or there are serious violations such as not paying tolls numerous times, the situation can be taken over by the toll authority and video surveillance implementedied. Better still try and pay the toll amounts along with the penalties so as to avoid legal issues.
Potential Grace Period
In these regions, it is common for the toll authorities to provide a grace period wherein a person can access the information through E-ZPass NJ and thus pay the fines online. The Yew Jersey covers all Ts and C’s regarding inadequately complying with Fines and the suspension of E-ZPass may have dire consequences.
Failure to act fast in paying the toll fees may result in further fees and other complications.
What to Do If You Accidentally Drive Through E-ZPass
For first-time users, what’s baffling is how to use an E-ZPass yet avoid its area? Toll booths and roadways had it tougher as they were supposed to understand if a customer didn’t have a grace period in place. To avoid issues, one should always consider the following steps:
- Violation Notices: Always check your mailbox for a violation notice that is designed to picture all toll charges and penalties to be paid together with the fines
- Pay The Toll: This can be easily done as you simply go to the online site. Just log in to your E-ZPass NJ account to manage where the payment will be done and the time.
- Edit Your Account Information: Log in to your account, in the case that it is out of date or something is wrong, take the opportunity to change the details to avoid making the same errors in the near future.
- Call in Customer Service: In case you have been charged wrongly or there was a mistake to begin with, simply call the customer service of the toll authority. They might have ways out or some options which you could liverate.
It is as simple and straightforward as this. If every step is done as instructed, expect to restore the problem of tolls violation as well.
How to Avoid Accidental E-ZPass Violations?
If you don’t want to face any similar issues in the coming future, consider integrating the below mentioned preventative measures.
- Recheck Your Transponder: Always check your vehicle for the E-ZPass transponder, and also confirm it is in the right account.
- Keep Enough Balance: Do not forget to watch over your E-ZPass, so as to not run out ever.
- Get to Know the Lanes: For the first time at a given location such as E-Z Pass NJ, you would want to check which lanes would accept E-Z Pass so as to not take a wrong turn.
You will be able to spend less time grappling with issues regarding toll violations by simply taking a few simple steps in the future.
Conclusion
In conclusion, what happens if you accidentally drive through E-ZPass can vary depending on the circumstances, but in most cases, it involves toll charges and possible violation fees. To avoid this issue, ensure your E-ZPass transponder is in place and your account is active.
If you do make this mistake, don’t panic—take the necessary steps to resolve the issue and prevent it from happening again. Whether you’re driving in New Jersey or another state, understanding how the toll system works can save you time, money, and stress in the future.
