Starting this week, drivers travelling between New York and New Jersey will face additional charges if they fail to correctly install an E-ZPass reader. The Port Authority of New York and New Jersey has officially implemented the new “E-ZPass Mid-Tier Toll Rate” in order to improve toll collection efficiency and ensure proper device usage.
According to the regulations, drivers using E-ZPass who do not install the reader (Tag) as instructed on the inside of the windshield of their vehicles will no longer enjoy the standard E-ZPass price. Instead, they will be charged the “mid-tier rate.” For regular passenger vehicles, this means an additional cost of $2.66 to $4.66 per passage, depending on the time of day.
For example, during non-peak hours entering New York from New Jersey, the usual E-ZPass rate is $14.06. However, if the reader is not correctly installed, the mid-tier rate of $18.72 will be charged. If a vehicle does not have an E-ZPass at all and opts to pay via mail (Tolls by Mail), the cost can go up to $22.38.
The new regulations have been implemented at several major crossings, including the Holland Tunnel, Lincoln Tunnel, George Washington Bridge, Bayonne Bridge, Goethals Bridge, and Outerbridge Crossing.
The Port Authority stated that currently, about 10% of vehicles are unable to be successfully read due to improper installation of the E-ZPass equipment, causing them to be automatically switched to license plate recognition tolling.
E-ZPass readers must be affixed to the inside of the windshield in a specific location. For detailed instructions, please refer to the official instructional video at https://reurl.cc/mYnLNW.