NEW YORK, N.Y. — Drivers using E-ZPass at Port Authority crossings will now face a new Mid-Tier toll penalty if their tag is not properly mounted on the windshield — part of a July 6 rule change that has sparked backlash and renewed scrutiny over the program’s oversight.
The authority’s switch to Transcore, through a $1.7 billion contract with the overseas company whose key shareholders have ties to the Chinese Communist Party raised initial concerns last year when the announcement was made.
Now, drivers are concerned about being fined for not mounting their payment units properly in their vehicles.
The Port Authority of New York and New Jersey introduced the Mid-Tier toll rate to incentivize correct placement of E-ZPass tags, citing mounting issues that prevent accurate scans at toll gantries. The new rate affects approximately 9% of toll transactions and applies to NY/NJ E-ZPass account holders with tags that fail to register correctly during crossings.
Officials say the measure is designed to recoup the additional processing costs of identifying license plates and verifying account details. While higher than standard E-ZPass rates, the Mid-Tier fee remains lower than full Tolls by Mail charges.
For example, Staten Island Bridges Plan users now pay $9.36 per trip under the Mid-Tier rate — double the discounted E-ZPass rate and just under the Tolls by Mail rate of $18.72 for one or two trips.
Customers are required to ensure that their license plate numbers are accurately linked to an active E-ZPass account. Improperly registered tags may default to Tolls by Mail even if an E-ZPass is present.
The rule change follows continued concerns over the involvement of a Chinese-linked manufacturer in E-ZPass tag production, raising questions about data security and procurement oversight. While not directly addressed by the Port Authority in its July policy update, critics have pointed to the fine structure as an example of unchecked vendor influence.
All tolls at Port Authority bridges and tunnels — including the George Washington Bridge, Lincoln Tunnel, and Goethals Bridge — are now cashless and collected only while entering New York.
E-ZPass users now risk higher tolls if their tag isn’t properly mounted, as the Port Authority introduces a Mid-Tier rate amid broader scrutiny of its technology providers.
