Note: Day 2 in our Christmas week traveling edition. Rock on.As I begin to travel more and more around Texas getting my Young & Free on, I've realized that there are some cool things about being on there are some not so good things. Tollways are definately one of the more annoying facets of a trip, especially if you have to stay on a tollway for a long time.
I know what you're thinking - Don't I already pay taxes for public properties and things such as the like. Don't I? DON'T I?
Tolls are in place to pay off the debt incurred by building the road without having to raise taxes. So instead of raising everyone's taxes, toll roads simply tax people who drive on those roads.
The main problem with toll roads, though, is that sometimes a county will opt to conitnue to charge a toll long after the debt has been paid off. LAME!
In order to get through the tolls as quickly and efficiently as possible, stop by your Kermit The Frog Piggy Bank and get a handful of quarters. Tolls range from .50 cents to upwards of $1.50 in some areas, and you want to go through the tolls as quickly as possible.
There are (for the most part) three different toll lanes you can go through:
EZ Tag: EZ Tag is an account that you register to your car that allows you to breeze through the toll without stopping. EZ Tag is awesome, but only for people who make frequent trips through tolls, such as an everyday commute to work.
Exact Change: Just what it means. GO through this one, throw your coins into the bucket and move on. Remember, though: These usually don't accept pennies or cash, just quarters nickels and dimes.
Full Service: This is the one you'll want to go through if you have cash or don't have any money with you. These tolls are manned by a teller who can make change, or give you a bill if you don't have any money. If you can't find any change amidst the malage of dum dums and reciepts in your glove compartment, you'll be given an envelope in which you must mail your check for $1.50 to the Toll Department.
Some things of note - If you have to mail in your toll, you typically get 5-7 das to do so. After that time, a fee of $5 is added to your toll, and this increases exponentially.
Also, some tolls have a "bill you later" type thing. If you go through EZ Tag without an EZ Tag, the cameras mounted above you will snap a photo of your license plate and mail a bill to the adress associated with the license plate. However, if there is no sign, then do not go through! You will be charged the toll and an additional fee. For the most part, not worth it.
Wondering why I know this and decided to post about it? I have paid roughly $10 worth of tolls in the last few days, and twice I had absolutely no money and had to use the option of mailing it in. Lame.
Please, if you know any tips to help keep some coin in your car for toll situations, please leave comments! I know I need some!
DeAndre "Secrets, Our Sandwiches" Upshaw