Some Richmond E-ZPass users are getting overcharged
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Some local E-ZPass users are getting charged the cash rate on Richmond toll roads since all-electronic tolling started earlier this year, according to a flood of social media posts.
Why it matters: Drivers without an E-ZPass pay double the regular toll rate on those roads.
State of play: Highway operator Richmond Metropolitan Transportation Authority is aware of the issue and actively working with the contractor to fix, spokesperson Tia Freeman tells Axios.
- Since all-electronic tolling started on most Richmond-area toll roads in late February, the system has been reading E-ZPass transponders accurately about 97% of the time, she says.
- Other times, it's reading E-ZPasses incorrectly, she says, charging drivers 10 cents more than the E-ZPass discounted rate.
- And there are occasions when the system isn't reading the transponder at all, triggering a pay-by-plate charge, which is double the E-ZPass rate.
Zoom in: RMTA asks toll road users who think they've been charged incorrectly to contact RMTA at [email protected] to have their account reviewed.
- They're also encouraging locals to make sure their E-ZPass accounts have an accurate vehicle or license plate linked because inaccuracies can cause the system to misread the transponder, Freeman says.
- Other issues could be improperly mounted transponders, insufficient funds in an account or batteries that need replacing, something only E-ZPass can do.
The fine print: All-electronic tolling started on Feb. 28 on the Downtown Expressway, the Boulevard Bridge and Powhite Parkway to Chippenham Parkway (VDOT manages the extension through Route 288) and their ramps.
- Drivers have 30 days to pay their statements or face fines starting at $25 for 31-60 days late and going up to $250, plus all previously unpaid fines and tolls after 121 days, per RMTA.
Caveat: The Downtown Expressway (and its ramps) are only no-cash at night.
- Cash and coin are accepted there from 6:30am to 9pm until 2027.
Editor's note: This story has been corrected to reflect that drivers are charged 10 cents more than the E-ZPass discounted rate when the system misreads an E-ZPass and are charged the pay-by-plate rate when the transponder is not detected. Incorrect information about the review process has been removed.