Ok this is fishy, has this happened to anyone else???

[seashoreCM]

I am sure FL is as tourist friendly as other states. .

Or should we say that other states are just as tourist unfriendly as Florida?

Not having any way to get a receipt and also refusing to believe a tourist who wrote in later and said he paid the toll in exact change (for example at a totally unmanned plaza) is tourist unfriendly.

 

[2binak]

I don't find the toll roads here in FL much different than the toll roads we had in my area when I lived in PA.

Well in New England states such as NY, MA & ME, you pay either when you enter a highway or when you exit a highway and sometimes, on the highway, but the booths on the highway are usually very far apart, not every few miles. They also all offer at least one manned booth at all times. The prices for tolls on these highways are no more expensive than in FL so I don't believe that manning a booth would raise prices.

 

[safetymom]

Or should we say that other states are just as tourist unfriendly as Florida?

Not having any way to get a receipt and also refusing to believe a tourist who wrote in later and said he paid the toll in exact change (for example at a totally unmanned plaza) is tourist unfriendly.

If you were in charge of the toll authority would you believe everyone that said they paid. I can't tell you the number of people I see that don't pay when they get off an exit of the Osceola Parkway. There are signs before they get to the booth stating there is a toll booth requiring exact change.

 

[safetymom]

Well in New England states such as NY, MA & ME, you pay either when you enter a highway or when you exit a highway and sometimes, on the highway, but the booths on the highway are usually very far apart, not every few miles. They also all offer at least one manned booth at all times. The prices for tolls on these highways are no more expensive than in FL so I don't believe that manning a booth would raise prices.

FL used to offer more manned booths but the authority was having money problems because so many Floridians find other ways to avoid toll roads when they have to take them all the time.

Typically when a state needs to raise extra highway funds they tax the rental cars so you might not want them to do that here.

Not every road is Florida is a toll road. I think no matter where you travel you need to be aware of the highway system and if tolls are required.

 

[seashoreCM]

If you were in charge of the toll authority would you believe everyone that said they paid. I can't tell you the number of people I see that don't pay when they get off an exit of the Osceola Parkway. There are signs before they get to the booth stating there is a toll booth requiring exact change.

(copied from another forum)
One who operates vending machines (and toll machines do fit the category) is supposed to have a grievance procedure to deal with malfunctions. The operator/merchant/authority chose the system in place (which may or may not include human beings) and therefore any shortcomings in the system should give the benefit of the doubt to the customer.

I forget exaxtly how it was worded but it went something like "it is better to let a million guilty go free as opposed to penalize one innocent".

Not sure whether toll authorities in places like Nevada or New Jersey* or Macau can put up signs at the entrances saying "Game of Chance" and then get away with charging fines to some who for all intents and purposes are random people.

*For you New Jersey Week participants, doesn't the Garden State Parkway still have toll booths across the main lanes every few miles?

 

[2binak]

There are signs before they get to the booth stating there is a toll booth requiring exact change.

What are you supposed to do if you don't have exact change as you approach the tollbooth? Do you stay on the highway, keep driving and hope the next exit doesn't require exact change and that you can find your way back to where you need to be?

I think no matter where you travel you need to be aware of the highway system and if tolls are required.

We knew there were tollbooths, but we didn't know there were unmanned booths. Sorry, never run into that where we live or other places where we have traveled.

 

[IlovePiglet]

So, I went to Publix yesterday but was so pressed for time I totally forgot about checking out the little stick on Sun Pass thing. I did find a toll free number on their website you can call:

1-888-865-5352

 

[APB513]

I am slightly confused (Ok maybe more than slightly ) I will be renting a car from Alamo and driving to Pop Century.

According to Bob,

"All mainline toll plazas around Orlando have an attendant on duty 24/7 if you need change or want receipts. It is true that some toll plazas on exit or entrance ramps are cash/SunPass only. Heading to Disney, if you use the airport's NORTH exit and follow TOLL 528 (Beachline Expressway) there are two mainline toll plazas that cost $1.00 and $.75 respectively. The airport plaza has not been rebuilt and there are numerous booths."

Does "mainline toll plazas" mean that toll booths are on the highway and I do not have to exit the highway to pay the toll?

Also, " The toll plaza closer to the Florida Mall has open road tolling and those paying cash must exit to the toll booths while only those with SunPass/E-PASS remain straight on the road at highway speeds."

In driving to Disney from the Airport, will I go near the Florida Mall? If so, when I exit to pay the toll, will there be clear signage (I'll be getting in after dark) to direct me back to TOLL 528?

Thanks!

 

[Horace Horsecollar]

Does "mainline toll plazas" mean that toll booths are on the highway and I do not have to exit the highway to pay the toll

The term "mainline toll plazas" here refers to places where tolls are collected if you are continuing on the toll highway (as opposed to places where tolls are collected on entrance or exit ramps).

At the second toll plaza, as you head west from the airport on 528, you don't actually exit the highway, but it looks somewhat like an exit. As you approach the toll location, make sure you're in the right lanes. That will take you to conventional toll booths where you can pay with cash.

Drivers who stay in the left lanes go under an overhead bar with devices that read transponders at freeway speed. Drivers who don't have SunPass/E-Pass transponders and who are paying attention to something else could pass under the bar without realizing that they missed paying a toll. (There are big signs, but people sometimes ignore signs that they think don't apply to them.)

The right lanes and left lanes rejoin right after the toll collection.

 

[APB513]

The term "mainline toll plazas" here refers to places wheres tolls are collected if you are continuing on the toll highway (as opposed to places where tolls are collected on entrance or exit ramps).

At the second toll plaza, as you head west from the airport on 528, you don't actually exit the highway, but it looks somewhat like an exit. As you approach the toll location, make sure you're in the right lanes. That will take you to conventional toll booths where you can pay with cash.

Drivers who stay in the left lanes go under an overhead bar with devices that read transponders at freeway speed. Drivers who don't have SunPass/E-Pass transponders and who are paying attention to something else could pass under the bar without realizing that they missed paying a toll. (There are big signs, but people sometimes ignore signs that they think don't apply to them.)

The right lanes and left lanes rejoin right after the toll collection.

Thank you! I want to make sure I don't miss any tolls.

 

[Kim&Chris]

Jumping into this thread a bit late, but we JUST received a letter from Dollar stating we missed a toll, and we're being charged $25.00. The toll we allegedly missed is on Becker Road. Anyone know where that is???

I can say with complete honesty that we did NOT miss a toll.

 

[safetymom]

Port St. Lucie has a Becker Road according to Google.

 

[Kim&Chris]

Port St. Lucie has a Becker Road according to Google.

Where the heck is that?? We didn't leave WDW property until it was time to travel back to MCO, so unless there's a Becker Road between WDW and MCO, Dollar is "fining" us for something we didn't do.

 

[safetymom]

Nowhere near WDW. I would ask them for the date and time of the violation. It could be from another renter.

 

[Kim&Chris]

Nowhere near WDW. I would ask them for the date and time of the violation. It could be from another renter.

They did provide us with time and date, and it's while we were still in posession of the vehicle. I'm going to call them tomorrow to dispute this. I will post here again when I get some answers.

 

[KINGBOBOFTHENORTH]

Where the heck is that?? We didn't leave WDW property until it was time to travel back to MCO, so unless there's a Becker Road between WDW and MCO, Dollar is "fining" us for something we didn't do.

There is no Becker Road toll plaza around Orlando. As mentioned, Becker Road is in Port St. Lucie and it's a SUNPASS ONLY exit on Florida's Turnpike. (Exit #138) Toll violations in Florida are photographed. You have a right to the photograph because the toll authorities sent it to the rental car company so they should send it to you. It will be date and time stamped and will show the tag number of the rental car in plain view.

Well in New England states such as NY, MA & ME, you pay either when you enter a highway or when you exit a highway and sometimes, on the highway, but the booths on the highway are usually very far apart, not every few miles. They also all offer at least one manned booth at all times.

Toll roads where you only pay when you get off the road are called "closed" systems and usually involve getting a paper ticket when you enter and then you turn in the ticket when you get off and pay the amount due. For those with transponders the signal is read getting on and then off and the proper amount is deducted. Closed toll systems are only practical on toll roads that cover long distances. In metropolitan areas they would greatly hinder traffic flow. So roads like the PA Turnpike, Ohio Turnpike, Indiana Toll Road, Kansas Turnpike have them. Toll roads serving metro areas have "open" systems where tolls are collected at mainline plazas as well as entrance and exit ramps; no toll tickets are involved. Such is the case around Orlando, Chicago, etc. Interestingly, Florida's Turnpike operates open systems at the north end (Kissimmee to I-75) and south end (Lantana to Miami) but a closed ticket-system in the long rural stretch between Kissimmee and Lantana. That Becker Road toll plaza mentioned by Kim&Chris is in the middle of that closed system.

BobK/Orlando

 

[Kim&Chris]

So.....

Just got off the phone with Dollar. The rep asked for the rental agreement number, I gave it to her, and she put me on hold. When she came back, I told her that the statement I received indicated I'd missed a toll on Becker Road, and that I was nowhere near Becker Road on that day. I told her that my trip took me directly from the Caribbean Beach Resort in Disney World to Orlando Int'l Airport with no stops in between, and that I was sure I did not miss any tolls.

She asked me to hold again while she checked some sort of toll map. She came back and apologized and said "I see that Becker Road is pretty far from where you were. I apologize, and I'll credit your card $25.00. It should take about 5 days to see the refund". And that was it.

I was glad it could be handled so quickly & easily. However.....I wonder how many people receive similar letters and simply let it go & pay the fine.

Thanks for your help in locating Becker Road!!

 

[safetymom]

Glad to hear they took care of it for you.

 

[KINGBOBOFTHENORTH]

Thanks for your help in locating Becker Road!!

Glad to hear that you got that resolved relatively painlessly.

Again I would urge those of you who come to Florida regularly to purchase a SunPass. A portable transponder that you can use in each car rental is $25; the SunPass Mini is only $5 and would be for people who visit in their personal car (since it has to be permanently affixed to work.) SunPass is valid at all toll roads in Florida and nearly every toll bridge, from the Panhandle to the Keys. They can be purchased on-line as well as at Publix, CVS and Turnpike service plazas.

BobK/Orlando

 

[rav4200024drlimtd]

Hi guys I'm matt I live in jupiter I accidently ran the sunpass toll just has you are exiting off of the sawgrass TOI THE NORTH NOT REALIZING IT. I did it more then once and my fiancee says to me "hey matt you know this is a sunpass lane"? I'm like uh now i do, It wasnt an intentional infraction is it true that they allow you one freebie? I can count the times I went under that little sunpass thing. I'm am not a criminal and I pay all my tolls and it was an honest mistake now I'm probabaly gonna get slapped with 500 worth of toll violations. Someone knowledgeable about sunpass please help me.



Thanks
Matt