Avis - EZ Toll

Early May I rented a car at TPA, Chrysler 300 (after upgrade). The little toll box in this car did not have the engage/disengage box, but was mounted to the windshield. I assumed it was inactive and I would have to do something to activate it. I ended up going through a few tolls where I stopped and paid, Skyway bridge for example. Yesterday I looked on my credit card and see a charge for $13.30. I just got an email back form Avis, I got a $1.50 toll. Apparently the toll was from the Tampa Expressway. I had no idea that I was on a toll road since there was never a booth. Did Avis permanently attach the toll collector b/c Tampa roads are designed to toll everyone? Is there anyhting i can do to get out of this fee? What can I do in the future?

Early May I rented a car at TPA, Chrysler 300 (after upgrade). The little toll box in this car did not have the engage/disengage box, but was mounted to the windshield. I assumed it was inactive and I would have to do something to activate it. I ended up going through a few tolls where I stopped and paid, Skyway bridge for example. Yesterday I looked on my credit card and see a charge for $13.30. I just got an email back form Avis, I got a $1.50 toll. Apparently the toll was from the Tampa Expressway. I had no idea that I was on a toll road since there was never a booth. Did Avis permanently attach the toll collector b/c Tampa roads are designed to toll everyone? Is there anyhting i can do to get out of this fee? What can I do in the future?
There are, if I recall, some roads that are set up exclusively for 'open road tolling' (what we'd call EZPass Express in the northeast - no booths, only a gantry with sensors & cameras), where the only way to pay the toll is by transponder or license plate photo. In those instances, there's no way for you to opt-out of using the transponder, since eToll would need to pass the cost on to the renter regardless of method. E-470 in Denver is one such road, as is a section of Florida's Turnpike near Miami.

From what I could see on this page (http://www.tampa-xway.com/pages.aspx?ID=92810143319), it looks like the Selmon [Tampa] Expressway is set up this way as well. And from the toll rates (http://www.tampa-xway.com/pages.aspx?ID=4280904516), it looks like you picked up that $1.50 toll at East Main Street (or by entering the express lanes). Sorry, but there'd be no way to avoid this toll, other than by not taking the Selmon Expressway again - even if you could disable the transponder, you'd still have been charged via pay-by-plate - and then you'd have been charged $1.75.

When you say the transponder was 'mounted to the windshield', was it an actual transponder or a sticker? SunPass has a couple of different transponder types, but anything other than the sticker should have emitted a beep to let you know that a toll had been paid. (The sticker is unpowered, and therefore generates no feedback.)

I do not entirly remember, but I think it looked like my EZPass. I know for certain that it was not the usual transponder in a case with a green/red 'switch' to active/deactivate. My EZPass does not beep at me and on the Jersey TPK I get no indications ont eh fast lanes. I guess I will jsut have to be more careful in FL next time. I have avoided the TPK in Miami to West Palm area because I know it is not staffed at most on/offs.

Early May I rented a car at TPA, Chrysler 300 (after upgrade). The little toll box in this car did not have the engage/disengage box, but was mounted to the windshield. I assumed it was inactive and I would have to do something to activate it. I ended up going through a few tolls where I stopped and paid, Skyway bridge for example. Yesterday I looked on my credit card and see a charge for $13.30. I just got an email back form Avis, I got a $1.50 toll. Apparently the toll was from the Tampa Expressway. I had no idea that I was on a toll road since there was never a booth. Did Avis permanently attach the toll collector b/c Tampa roads are designed to toll everyone? Is there anyhting i can do to get out of this fee? What can I do in the future?

The skyway is indeed a toll road as you indicated however there is no Tampa Expressway (I am originally from Tampa and live 2 hours away now so I still frequent the area, actually going tomorrow for a few days), also there are no roads that automatically charge you for driving on them without toll boots etc. The only road I can think is an east west toll road called the Crosstown/selmon expressway. even it has normal toll booths and signs etc explaining you are getting on a toll road. They do have a reversible express lane part that is Sunpass (the name for ezpass system here) only but you would have to be silly and crazy to not know you were being charged because of all the signs and the fact youre already on a toll road.

youre smart for avoiding the turnpike in south florida as the interstate is faster, has more lanes, and is way more central and convenient for getting around down there.

Hope this helps!

The skyway is indeed a toll road as you indicated however there is no Tampa Expressway (I am originally from Tampa and live 2 hours away now so I still frequent the area, actually going tomorrow for a few days), also there are no roads that automatically charge you for driving on them without toll boots etc. The only road I can think is an east west toll road called the Crosstown/selmon expressway. even it has normal toll booths and signs etc explaining you are getting on a toll road. They do have a reversible express lane part that is Sunpass (the name for ezpass system here) only but you would have to be silly and crazy to not know you were being charged because of all the signs and the fact youre already on a toll road.

youre smart for avoiding the turnpike in south florida as the interstate is faster, has more lanes, and is way more central and convenient for getting around down there.

Hope this helps!

THe .pdf bill from AVIS says crosstown. I assume I got off of I75 and got off at Exit 9 by IKEA: http://www.tampa-xway.com/images/editor/file/Landmarks.pdf

The same tampa-xway website gives you two different toll charges, Sunpass and 'we bill you' I bet 'we bill you' is a license plate. I deffinitly did not get ont he reversible part, there were enough cones and lights to avoid that. The 'gantries' must be high speed ones that grab a plate or a sunpass. Totally not worth $13.

We had a similar experience in TPA. We realized we were on the no cash toll road and there was a $100 fine if we didn't have a transponder or plates registered. I was very happy o find out that we did have one in our rental. Regardless, we found I was very easy to get on the toll road on accident.

Folks have mentioned registering the rental car plates on your own EZPass account. But if you take your own transponder with you, will that set off anything at TSA security? Would it be better to put the thing in checked luggage or carry-on?

But if you take your own transponder with you, will that set off anything at TSA security? Would it be better to put the thing in checked luggage or carry-on?

I've never had a problem taking my transponder in my carry-on bag. I've done it multiple times.

I've never had a problem taking my transponder in my carry-on bag. I've done it multiple times.

As have I.

If you're worried (which you shouldn't be), keep it in the transparent foil bag that it came in. The bag is designed to block radio signals.