Bill would force N.J. highways to show the price of E-ZPass tolls

New Jersey drivers with E-ZPass, may soon have a way to find out how much they’re paying in tolls before they get their monthly statement.

Sen. Loretta Weinberg (D-Bergen County) says E-ZPass has made it easier to travel, but has also disconnected drivers from how much each trip on the New Jersey Turnpike, Garden State Parkway or Atlantic City Expressway costs.

The New Jersey Senate has approved a bill she sponsored that would require the amount to be displayed on the tollbooth’s electronic screen.

“As you go through where it says toll paid it’s figured out that you have money in your account or it wouldn’t say toll paid,” said Weinberg. “So if it figures out you have money in your account it can figure out how much you’ve just spent.”

Sen. Joe Pennacchio (R-Morris County) says drivers might change their habits on short trips if they knew how much it was costing them. 

“Now wouldn’t it be nice if we saw a toll and it says a $1.50 and say ‘oh my gosh maybe I didn’t have to make that trip to the supermarket. I could have made one trip tomorrow instead of making two trips and that way I could have saved a dollar and a half,'” said Pennacchio. “So I think we have to inform the consumer and this makes a step towards doing that.”

If the measure becomes law, transportation authorities would not have to implement it until they upgrade their electronic collection systems.

It would not apply to high-speed toll lanes, bridges or tunnels.