What's with these Tolls? (Dallas, Howe: to rent, license plate, bills)

[ladysrodgers]

Originally Posted by NYRN

In NY it costs $9 to cross the Verrazano bridge!

Sheesh! That could sure add up. I should have specified, the Golden Gate only charges one way, and that's to enter San Francisco.

[ladysrodgers]

Originally Posted by nativeDallasite

It costs between $5 and $5.50 at the moment to cross the Humber Bridge in northern England, which used to hold the world record for world's longest suspension bridge. It goes from nowhere to nowhere.

http://www.humberbridge.co.uk/index.php

I love the picture of the fog on that site! The Golden Gate bridge looks almost identical to that one - including the fog.......now I'm getting homesick.

People can buy toll tags for the Golden Gate too....I'm not sure what the fee is with the tag though - now. It used to be for convenience sake only, so you didn't have to stop, with no discount.

[ladysrodgers]

Originally Posted by twojciac

Yeah, but it's free the other way.

Same for the Golden Gate.

[QuickSilver2]

I commute from Celina to Grapevine and I have stopped taking the toll roads. The toll roads (DNT and 121) do not save me any time.

[lh_newbie]

Quicksilver - at 35 or more miles each way - have you considered moving closer to work? I'm very curious if rising gas prices have brought this thought to the surface among people that have longer commutes. Your fuel bill has to be crazy! Do you mind if I ask what kind of vehicle you drive?

Brian

[QuickSilver2]

Hi Brian:

Yes it's a bone of contention for sure but I truly love living out in the country (I am 1 hour from the Oklahoma border). I spend around 3 hours on commute total daily. I used to drive a 2006 Mitsubishi Evolution 7 but after putting 20,000 in less than a year I sold it as it was unfair to that car. I bought a 99 Mercedes 230 Kompressor to replace it. Gas milage at 25mpg is decent but it requires premium fuel at $3 per gallon. I am researching older Merceds Diesel so I can burn throw away frying oil from restaurants for free.

It's a balance though, Mrs QuickSilver works less than 5 miles from home, my Kids have a wonderful school district, they get picked up in front of my drive way by the school bus, high caliber neighbors (Mayor, Police Chief, Council Members, etc).

My company is opening a location in McKinney in 09 and will become a 5 mile commute on country roads hopefully.

The Mrs and I always joke that when we become empty nesters we should move to one of those downtown lofts so we can experience walking to work.

[lh_newbie]

Thanks for the response - it's always nice to hear about the thought process of people in different situations than myself. Wow - 3 hrs of commuting daily. Certainly, God has provided you with much more patience than I. Sounds like '09 could bring you 2+ hours per day of extra family time if you get to cut your commute!

Brian

[QuickSilver2]

It's a constant struggle though and as you suspected one that has a toll on family life. But whatyougonnando?

I only take solace in the fact that it seems that I am not the only one. You start noticing same vehicles on the same route everyday

[blockhead]

Today I got a bill from the NTTA for $102.48. This was composed of $2.48 in tolls, plus $100 in "administrative fees". I have been getting little toll bills for several months, even though I have a tolltag. I actually have been paying these bills, even though I have not understood why I am getting them. However, this whopper of a bill really floored me.

Anyone else have the same experience...and how did you handle it?

[momof2dfw]

Originally Posted by blockhead

Today I got a bill from the NTTA for $102.48. This was composed of $2.48 in tolls, plus $100 in "administrative fees". I have been getting little toll bills for several months, even though I have a tolltag. I actually have been paying these bills, even though I have not understood why I am getting them. However, this whopper of a bill really floored me.

Anyone else have the same experience...and how did you handle it?

Yes, been there, done that. Call the NTTA. They will pull your records and most likely will see where you do have a tolltag and most likely where it picked up your entering or exiting the toll but not the other on that same day and time. I've always gotten it cleared and not had to pay any fee.

FYI, they don't send out a bill till they have a significant amount or about every 6-12 months. Otherwise they would have a HUGE monthly expense in postage for all of the little ones that would get mailed out. You should be able to go online and set up an online account and keep track of such that way you know ahead of time or right away if something did not get picked up and can call then.