Toll Question

[andymattmom]

When we were driving from the airport to Disney on the 20th we went thru a toll booth. There were 2 signs= on for the pass and the other said exact change 50 cents. I pulled up to pay= found I didn't have 50 cents. I sat there, looked at the machine, couldn't find anyplace to get change as it was an unmanned booth as was the only other one. THere were cars coming behind me so I pulled up and stopped...looked thru the car, etc and found no change. The other only said it was for the pass so I drove on. I was in a rental and know they can find me. I have no problem paying but what can I expect. Has this happened to anyone else?

On the way to the airport I made sure I had more than enough change!

 

[ExPirateShopGirl]

I keep an Airborne tube filled with quarters in my rental car when we visit WDW for just this reason.

As far as your situation goes, I've heard of people doing the same thing and they never heard anything from the rental car agency. They may add the cost of the toll to your rental later.

 

[wisbucky]

I recommend you call the rental car company immediately and explain what happened. I have heard of folks being charged a fee anywhere from $12- $25.00 for not paying at the toll on thier credit cards later on. But under the circumstances I would call ASAP.

 

[OhMari]

Is Orlando really strict?

I know when I was coming from O'Hare airport back to Wisconsin, I didn't get in the correct lane. I would have had to pass 4 lanes over and then the cash and IPass were seperated by a cement wall. I just drove on thru. It was over 18 months ago, and I didn't receive anything. My dh pulled our trailer thru and didn't have any cash on him, he never got a ticket.

I do know in Chicago, if you are a huge repeat offender they will get you.

 

[andymattmom]

Thanks- I will notify Alamo and just see what happens.

 

[bg4]

same thing happened to me at that exit a couple of years ago. Threw two quarters and one didnt make it so I drove thru (with rental car) Nothing ever happened.

Its a bit tough to enforce a toll where there are no attendants IMHO.

 

[cranbiz]

This happens frequently, usually they won't go after you for 1 toll violation. The problem can come up it that particular rental car has multiple violations, then the rental company will get notice and chase you.

Check to see if your rental company participates in prepaid tolls. This program charges you a flat fee for your stay and you use the transponder lanes. Not cost effective for just going back and forth to the airport but if you do a lot of driving around Orlando, you could make out.

 

[seashoreCM]

>>> ... threw two quarters and one didn't make it ...

Naughty at best, illegal at worst. Drive out by one carlength (to uncover the ground so you can see the dropped quarter) then get out and go back to fetch the quarter to throw in manually. Should next car come out at you, jump back out of the way, get back in. He'll throw in his quarters and when light turns green, go.

On some newer tollways including north south route 429 going west of Disney to Disney's Western Way, the road splits with the electronic lanes in the main line and with both the exact change and attendant lanes going off to the side like an exit.

Anecdotal evidence here has it that occasional violations are forgiven at toll plazas between MCO and WDW with no attendant at all provided you go through the exact change lane and not the electronic lane.

 

[ExPirateShopGirl]

This is a horrible idea. This can cause the second car (that presumably paid the toll) to get the violation, rather than the first.

>>> ... threw two quarters and one didn't make it ...

Naughty at best, illegal at worst. Drive out by one carlength (to uncover the ground so you can see the dropped quarter) then get out and go back to fetch the quarter to throw in manually. Should next car come out at you, jump back out of the way, get back in. He'll throw in his quarters and when light turns green, go.

 

[DVC-Don]

At MCO now after turning in our Budget rental. We used the manual lanes for tolls on 417, but there was a sticker on our windshield saying we could use the Express lane and our card would be charged the toll + a $1.50 fee.

 

[seashoreCM]

>>> ... horrible ...

Now the second driver can sit there without throwing in anything until the first driver departs. Or after the first driver departs the second can be naughty too and throw in his money a little at a time to take advantage of a partial payment by the first.

Or the second driver can be nice if not impatient and quickly throw in extra money anyway ...

By the way, scavenging coins from the pavement in the toll plaza is illegal in most states including New Hampshire.

 

[jekjones1558]

OP,
This exact thing happened to us--thought we had change but we didn't, so we just drove through. I was all worried about it. I asked at a manned (actually WOMANED) toll booth on a subsequent day and was told not to worry about it. I never heard a word about it.

 

[bg4]

OP,
This exact thing happened to us--thought we had change but we didn't, so we just drove through. I was all worried about it. I asked at a manned (actually WOMANED) toll booth on a subsequent day and was told not to worry about it. I never heard a word about it.

I rest my case. If it is UNMANNED there is no way they can enforce it.

I was never contacted. Your mileage may vary.

 

[NYDisneyKid]

I have never paid tolls when I have driven to or from MCO and I've done it 3 times since moving here. There is a way to avoid the toll roads. It may take an extra 10 minutes off your "Disney time" but thats ok with me. ºOº

 

[hearts8701]

in the chicago area there are signs incase you get confused and go thru the i-pass lane with a phone number to call and make payment

 

[pxlbarrel]

Last month, we were at that 50 cent toll booth (from MCO to Disney) and we kept tossing coins in....it seemed to want more than 50 cents!!! We weren't going to through without the green light because there's no way I wanted to risk $25 from the rental company (or however much they'd ding me for if they got the fine). I think we ended up paying $1 or something. All the coins went in but it took a long time for them to drop and process....so I dunno. We complained, to ourselves since there was nobody else to complain to, on how the money sucking machine wanted more and more. Maybe somebody drove through before us without paying? LOL

 

[KINGBOBOFTHENORTH]

Expressway Authority operates most (but not all) of the toll roads around Orlando. If you have one or two toll violations then nothing will happen. They understand that circumstances arise that prevent payment at non-staffed lanes. You should never, ever get out of your car or ask someone else for change! But once you get three or more then it's starting to look like you're skipping tolls on purpose and they can send you a Uniform Traffic Citation.

If you used the 417 then both main line plazas are operated by Expressway Authority under the E-Pass name. The third toll as you head towards Disney, at the Osceola Parkway exit, is non-staffed and is operated by Florida's Turnpike Authority under the SunPass name. If you skipped all 3, you'd have your violations spread amongst two different agencies and you'd probably get a bye. If you used the 528 then there two main line plazas, one operated by EA and the other by FTA. Once again skipping both one time would not likely earn you a ticket.

All main line toll plazas around Orlando have staffed lanes 24/7. It's those toll booths at exit and entrance ramps that are always unstaffed, except on the Turnpike itself. Most of the main line plazas around Orlando now offer "open road tolling" where you can proceed through at highway speeds, but only if you have a transponder. Unfortunately it's not uncommon for someone unfamiliar with the system to pass through without a transponder and not even realize it. Do it too many times with the same agency and a traffic citation will be coming your way. And failure to pay THAT will eventually make it onto your credit report.

BobK/Orlando