Res. No. 2005

Resolution calling upon the New York State Thruway Authority, the Triborough Bridge and Tunnel Authority, and the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey to create a system that allows E-ZPass users to immediately transfer their E-ZPass tags to any vehicle.

By Council Members Dickens, Brewer, Fidler, Foster, Gentile, Jackson, James, Liu, Mealy, Palma, Sanders Jr., Seabrook, Weprin and Mark-Viverito

Whereas, The E-ZPass is an electronic toll collection (“ETC”) system designed to reduce congestion at the toll plazas; and

Whereas, The New York E-ZPass is operated under the auspices of the Triborough Bridge and Tunnel Authority (“TBTA”), the New York State Thruway Authority (“NYSTA”), and the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey (“PANYNJ”); and

Whereas, The E-ZPass system has three components which include (1) a toll tag, which is placed inside the vehicle, (2) an overhead antenna, which reads the toll tag and collects the toll, and (3) video cameras to identify toll evaders; and

Whereas, Tolls are automatically deducted from the users’ prepaid account each time they pass through an E-ZPass lane; and

Whereas, Up to four vehicles can be registered to an E-ZPass account, and a tag is issued to each vehicle; and

Whereas, Each E-ZPass tag is specifically programmed for a particular vehicle type, and if the tag does not match the vehicle in the account, this may result in a violation and possibly large fines assessed to the tag holder, especially if a lower-class (e.g., passenger car) tag is being used in a higher-class vehicle such as a bus or truck; and

Whereas, Customers can add or delete vehicles from their account at anytime by notifying an E-ZPass service center representative by phone or by updating their account online so that they stay in compliance with E-ZPass regulations; and

Whereas, It takes approximately 24 to 48 hours for the registration change to reflect on the account; and

Whereas, There is concern, however, that this time lapse may be problematic for E-ZPass users; and

Whereas, Customers could be denied use of their E-ZPass during this account registration delay and would have to pay cash until their account is updated; and

Whereas, In addition, users can only be reimbursed for cash toll payments when they provide a copy of their receipt; and

Whereas, The waiting period to update an account and the reimbursement policy is not provided on the E-ZPass website nor is it voluntarily given by customer service representatives unless the customer specifically asks a representative about such procedures; and

Whereas, This suggests that even though a customer follows the protocol of updating his or her account so that the tags and vehicles match, the customer may be subject to a violation for driving through an E-ZPass lane with an unregistered vehicle when, in fact, notice of the change was provided but the vehicle was not automatically added to the account; and

Whereas, This is of particular concern when a user rents a vehicle, or even leases or purchases another vehicle; and

Whereas, Users may end up spending unnecessary time disputing an unwarranted violation and may not be aware that they can be reimbursed for their cash payments while waiting for their account to be updated; and

Whereas, The process of updating an account is a huge inconvenience when E-ZPass users cannot immediately transfer their tag to another vehicle; now, therefore, be it

Resolved, That the Council of the City of New York calls upon the New York State Thruway Authority, the Triborough Bridge and Tunnel Authority, and the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey to create a system that allows E-ZPass users to immediately transfer their E-ZPass tags to any vehicle.

LS #7381

5/14/09

3:18 p.m.

TC