If you were to look at a map of the state of Florida showing its toll road systems, what you would probably notice is that it looks a lot like a spider web. In fact, as of 2013, Florida had more toll roads than any other state and they fall into three categories. Most are standard toll roads (approximately 21 lanes), but there are also 13 toll bridges and carriageways and three managed lanes. Managed lanes include reversible lanes and lanes that are free for HOV 3+ or motorcycles.
It seems that the number of these paths is increasing rapidly. The intended purpose of these highways is to allow traffic to flow more smoothly due to fewer impediments than surface streets, such as traffic lights or stop signs. This is a good concept, but it fails in practice because the volume of traffic using toll roads means they don’t work as efficiently as they were designed to.
It seems that not paying a toll shouldn’t even be a ticketable offense, and many drivers resent having to pay tolls. After all, aren’t our taxes supposed to pay for the construction and repair of our infrastructure? AHA! Here is the crux of the problem that I have mentioned many times in the past. I can’t say this often or clearly enough; I strongly believe that the reason so many traffic tickets are issued in the state of Florida is not for the safety of its citizens, but to help cover budget shortfalls.
Tolls are just an extension of this practice. Theoretically, they should only be collected until the cost of that particular road is paid for, but that’s not how things have turned out for most of them. Take Alligator Alley, I-75, and SR 93 in South Florida, for example. It was opened in 1968, and yet the car toll is still $3.00 or $2.75 with a SunPass. Sure, those agencies that profit from tolling would argue that ‘improvements’ to the highway justify continued tolls, but it’s a moot debate because tolls have been collected continuously for nearly 50 years, even when construction was not in progress. or recently completed.
Although it is still an option in many places to pay tolls in cash, the number of toll stations that accept this as a means of payment seems to be dwindling. Many have chosen to rely strictly on the use of other methods, such as a transponder. Therefore, it is very important when traveling that you make sure you know what form of payment is acceptable on the toll roads that exist along your route.
A transponder is an electronic instrument, like the SunPass, that is attached to the windshield of a vehicle. When going through a toll booth, an electronic sensor scans this device and the toll amount is electronically subtracted from a prepaid account. Using one of these devices typically results in a toll fee that is somewhat less than cash because there are fewer administrative costs associated with this method.
In addition to transponders, many areas of the state use a toll-by-plate system. This program is established by the Florida Department of Transportation and uses a system whereby a picture of your license plate is taken when you cross into a toll area. A copy of this image along with the violation is then mailed to the name and address of the person to whom the car is registered. This is probably the most expensive method of paying a toll, short of receiving a traffic ticket for not paying the toll at all, because it requires more administrative interaction.
Once an operator takes a picture of your tag as you drive through a toll lane, if you don’t pay cash and get no signal from the transponder, they will send a toll violation notice to the address where the car is located. It is registered. Not all drivers are aware that they are entering a toll zone until it is too late. If that happens to you and you realize you committed the toll violation, you can go online to pay the fine without incurring any other charges.
It’s not hard to see why people often overlook paying tolls and don’t consider the traffic tickets associated with them to be “real” traffic tickets. After all, it’s only a dollar or two, right? In reality, they may not be exciting, but toll violations can be much more serious than people realize. If you fail to pay a toll through any of the methods mentioned here, you CAN and probably will get an actual traffic ticket. If you do not pay the traffic ticket, it is classified as a moving violation that can result in fines of up to $200. Its nominal toll has become exponentially higher; however, DO NOT just pay for it. Don’t ignore it either because another consequence of doing so can be driver’s license suspension.
To try to avoid the negative outcome of a toll violation, there are a few things you can do to reduce your chances of getting one. Always make sure your transponder is working and is properly registered to the correct vehicle. Remember that if you move, your car registration must be updated. Moving is usually quite a chaotic experience and often changing the address on our record can go unnoticed. However, it is very important that you do so. If the Toll Violation Notice is sent to your old address, you will still be responsible for any fines or penalties associated with it.
This is a good time to call us because we fight these types of traffic tickets frequently. We specialize in everybody types of traffic tickets and have a 99% success rate. Even if they are not as dramatic as other traffic tickets can be, they need to be defended to avoid the very specific ramifications that can come from them, so call 954-967-9888 for a free consultation.