Yellow Taxi Cab drivers required to use EZ Pass + discount at toll crossings
Jan 20, 2012, 9:01 am
#1
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Yellow Taxi Cab drivers required to use EZ Pass + discount at toll crossings
Didn't want to start a new thread but had a question about this:
I recently went from Mid-town to LGA. The cab driver took the R.F.K Bridge. He said he left his EZ Pass at home and asked that I pay the $6.50 cash toll. I gave him $6.50 and he got me a toll plaza receipt. When I got out of the cab and examined the taxi fare receipt I saw $4.80 added on the toll line of the taxi fare. Was I double charged for the toll? And should I complain to the TLC?
I recently went from Mid-town to LGA. The cab driver took the R.F.K Bridge. He said he left his EZ Pass at home and asked that I pay the $6.50 cash toll. I gave him $6.50 and he got me a toll plaza receipt. When I got out of the cab and examined the taxi fare receipt I saw $4.80 added on the toll line of the taxi fare. Was I double charged for the toll? And should I complain to the TLC?
Jan 20, 2012, 9:47 am
#2
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I guess he is charging you for the round trip.
Of course, there is the chance he picks up a fare and charges them toll also but I could be wrong but cabs departing NYC for Newark airport do charge you the return toll even though you don't encounter it on the outbound direction.
The tunnel is faster than the QBoro Bridge as you eliminate the local lights, etc. in Queens and queue up to the bridge lower level. Is it worth $4.80 of time doubtful but taxi drivers don't always follow logic.
Of course, there is the chance he picks up a fare and charges them toll also but I could be wrong but cabs departing NYC for Newark airport do charge you the return toll even though you don't encounter it on the outbound direction.
The tunnel is faster than the QBoro Bridge as you eliminate the local lights, etc. in Queens and queue up to the bridge lower level. Is it worth $4.80 of time doubtful but taxi drivers don't always follow logic.
Jan 20, 2012, 10:01 am
#3
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Didn't want to start a new thread but had a question about this:
I recently went from Mid-town to LGA. The cab driver took the R.F.K Bridge. He said he left his EZ Pass at home and asked that I pay the $6.50 cash toll. I gave him $6.50 and he got me a toll plaza receipt. When I got out of the cab and examined the taxi fare receipt I saw $4.80 added on the toll line of the taxi fare. Was I double charged for the toll? And should I complain to the TLC?
I recently went from Mid-town to LGA. The cab driver took the R.F.K Bridge. He said he left his EZ Pass at home and asked that I pay the $6.50 cash toll. I gave him $6.50 and he got me a toll plaza receipt. When I got out of the cab and examined the taxi fare receipt I saw $4.80 added on the toll line of the taxi fare. Was I double charged for the toll? And should I complain to the TLC?
Since you have the receipt and the Medallion number file a complaint with the TLC.
Jan 20, 2012, 12:37 pm
#4
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Didn't want to start a new thread but had a question about this:
I recently went from Mid-town to LGA. The cab driver took the R.F.K Bridge. He said he left his EZ Pass at home and asked that I pay the $6.50 cash toll. I gave him $6.50 and he got me a toll plaza receipt. When I got out of the cab and examined the taxi fare receipt I saw $4.80 added on the toll line of the taxi fare. Was I double charged for the toll? And should I complain to the TLC?
I recently went from Mid-town to LGA. The cab driver took the R.F.K Bridge. He said he left his EZ Pass at home and asked that I pay the $6.50 cash toll. I gave him $6.50 and he got me a toll plaza receipt. When I got out of the cab and examined the taxi fare receipt I saw $4.80 added on the toll line of the taxi fare. Was I double charged for the toll? And should I complain to the TLC?
Taxi cab drivers are REQUIRED to use EZ Pass and are REQUIRED to pass the discount along to the passenger. If a driver charges me $6.50 because they forgot their EZ Pass, then that's their problem, and I deduct the difference from the tip, as well as any additional waiting time spent in the Cash lane, which is usually slower than the EZ Pass lane.
http://www.nyc.gov/html/tlc/html/pas...b_rights.shtml
http://www.examiner.com/government-i...o-use-e-z-pass
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And as this topic is a bit different from the original thread, I've split it out into a separate thread.
/Moderator
Jan 20, 2012, 12:52 pm
#5
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I recently went from Mid-town to LGA. The cab driver took the R.F.K Bridge. He said he left his EZ Pass at home and asked that I pay the $6.50 cash toll. I gave him $6.50 and he got me a toll plaza receipt. When I got out of the cab and examined the taxi fare receipt I saw $4.80 added on the toll line of the taxi fare. Was I double charged for the toll? And should I complain to the TLC?
TTT, you need to report this. This lowlife took advantage of you. Don't reward him by letting him get away with it. We already have a thread in which that OP rewarded a cabbie with a large tip after he mouthed off at him because the fare was only to Queens and not to Manhattan.
Jan 20, 2012, 1:32 pm
#6
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Thanks all - complaint, with receipts, has been filed. I guess I need to submit some written testimony as well.
It smelled fishy but it is good to know for sure. And he seemed like a good guy - at least his Christian reggae music led me to think so.
It smelled fishy but it is good to know for sure. And he seemed like a good guy - at least his Christian reggae music led me to think so.
Jan 20, 2012, 2:46 pm
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LGA ain't EWR
You don't pay RT tolls on LGA (or JFK) runs. Only EWR (becs. it's out-of-state). Either this guy screwed you deliberately or inadverdently, but either way, you did get screwed.
Jan 20, 2012, 10:15 pm
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I don't know how they add the fare to the meter, but perhaps it was inadvertent. In any event, the OP should have noticed the extra charge when paying and addressed it then. IMO, there's some responsibility there.
Jan 20, 2012, 10:30 pm
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Edited to add: The "great point" was the question about how the toll gets added to the meter computation. I reject any idea that the passenger has any responsibility to determine the accuracy of the bill on the spot or is then foreclosed from relief. Should cab drivers have a 15 minute statute of limitations for intentional or negligent overcharging?
Last edited by Landing Gear; Jan 21, 2012 at 10:26 am
Jan 21, 2012, 8:10 am
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It very well could have been inadvertent - I think I read somewhere that some meters are designed to automatically add the toll when driving through the booth. Maybe that's how it worked in this situation. In any case he shouldn't have had me pay the cash toll to begin with and should have had his EZ Pass (if he indeed forgot it).
Jan 21, 2012, 3:39 pm
#12
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I agree - I didn't look at the receipt or fare calculation on the screen closely enough. It was not until I got into the airport that I really looked at it and noticed. I should have paid more attention before getting out of the cab.
It very well could have been inadvertent - I think I read somewhere that some meters are designed to automatically add the toll when driving through the booth.
It very well could have been inadvertent - I think I read somewhere that some meters are designed to automatically add the toll when driving through the booth.
Nothing about what you experienced is "inadvertent". You were targeted.
Jan 21, 2012, 4:59 pm
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Which is not permitted on east river crossing fares; only to EWR is that allowed.
When they go through the toll there is an alert on the meter that they accept to run the charge. My understanding is that it is triggered based on the GPS in the system.
Absolutely. I'd complain to the TLC about it, and also write it off as a $6.50 lesson that doesn't deserve too much more follow-up.
Well, the meter does know when you're crossing a toll plaza and prompts the driver to add the toll to the fare. The driver stole the extra $4.80 by accepting the toll add-on while knowingly not paying with such. And the driver really stole $6.50 because the toll should have been the lower number to begin with.
Agreed.
Absolutely. I'd complain to the TLC about it, and also write it off as a $6.50 lesson that doesn't deserve too much more follow-up.
Agreed.
Jan 23, 2012, 10:43 pm
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Edited to add: The "great point" was the question about how the toll gets added to the meter computation. I reject any idea that the passenger has any responsibility to determine the accuracy of the bill on the spot or is then foreclosed from relief. Should cab drivers have a 15 minute statute of limitations for intentional or negligent overcharging?
Jan 28, 2012, 10:24 am
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