I'll just grit my teeth and absorb the extra costs. It's still not worth waiting in those lines! (I am on the commuter plan.)

Don't blame you at all. As a commuter, those extra minutes in the car will really add up. --- lfk.

Another defeat for the citizenry. I suppose we should be thankful that Dear Leader and his cronies even paid lip service to our concerns.

I'm most definitely going to be turning in my Maryland E-ZPass immediately and getting a Pennsylvania E-ZPass. PA only charges $3 bucks a YEAR versus the exorbitant $1.50 a month Maryland is trying to steal from us. No brainer for me.

Steve, do you know whether they will mail you a transponder to a Maryland address, or do you have to go there to pick one up? --- lfk.

"Steve, do you know whether they will mail you a transponder to a Maryland address, or do you have to go there to pick one up?"

I am not sure if PA will mail them to a MD address, but I know that at the various rest stops on the PA turnpike they sell them in a vending machine. I traverse the PA turnpike every other month or so and will just pick one up next month when I take the turnpike.

Good tip! Thanks! --- lfk.

Did the MTA file an Environmental Impact Statement on this new regulation. It would seem the increased waiting would have a significant impact on pollution on the corridor.

LEC, I"ll pass this question on to Mike Dresser, the reporter covering the story! -- lfk.

Anyone on the commuter plan would be crazy to turn in their EZ-Pass. The commuter plan prices didn't go up when the normal tolls doubled to $2, making them quite a bargain if you do enough trips per month.

Hal's right, but it's gong to be tougher to qualify for that savings. According to Mike Dresser's first story on the proposed E-ZPass changes, you're going to have to make 25 round trips, or 50 one-way trips, within 45 days to get the discount. --- lfk

For the ten trips I take crossing the bay bridge in the summer, I'll be turning in my EZ-Pass. I'll cross during off peak hours and save the $18 in service charges.

Funny thing about how much money they expect to generate with these fees, it will be no where near what they expected because truth be told, it was a nice to have and not a necessity for most people. Especially since Maryland has refused to put in high speed toll lanes.

I will be getting an EZPass from another state that does not charge a monthly fee. I do not use EZPass every day, so I cannot justify wasting money every month to have it sit on my windshield. Off now to research what state will receive my money....

As someone who has a Commuter plan and uses it for daily M-F round trips, I will be keeping my EZ Pass. Even with the new fees, it is still financially beneficial. I also don't lengthen the time of my commute any more than it is. My guess is that PA would not issue a transponder to a MD resident. Don't they make you give a license plate number, should the EZ Pass not detect your transponder, they can still check to see if you have an account. I would think if your plate/car must be registered within that state to receive it. My question-- why does this state insist on penalizing those of us who are trying to do our part by minimizing traffic at the toll plazas. I would think EZ Pass users would be rewarded for doing their part in streamlining this process.

Dan, a lot of readers are asking that question too. MdTA officials say they've been subsidizing the program all along, and they can't afford to do it any more. --- lfk.

Dan is incorrect about other agencies not allowing people from out of state to have accounts. This has been discussed on the Talk forum: http://talk.baltimoresun.com/showthread.php?t=179922

This decision by MdTA dumbfounds me. They would have been better off raising the cost per trip for commuters by 5 cents. After all the people who aren't on commuter plans close their MD E-ZPass accounts, that's effectively what the MdTA will have done.

Adding fees to EzPass is counter productive. It SAVES the authority money by reducing the number of toll collectors needed. Those who are SAVING them money are being penalized. This is all on top of doubling the toll recently. Where does it end? A significant number of people will be turning in the transponder, including me.

I'm going to switch to Virginia -- NO fees

We drive to PA or NJ only 3-4 times a year. I am not going to keep it if I have to pay $18 a year just to have it!

Ana, depending on where you're headed, you could probably find some alternative routes that are less expensive, toll-wise. -- lfk.

I have a Maryland EZ Pass account and I live in Florida. I got it when I lived in Annapolis and had to cross the Bay Bridge every weekday.
It is still registered to me with my FL tag, and my fiancee's car with a MD tag is listed second. She uses it occasionally and I use it when I'm up there and need it. I'm thinking I might want to cancel it next time I'm up there.

PCB Rob, let us know which direction you take. --- lfk.

There were only two reasons to have a MD EZ-Pass: no additional money spent and an express route thru the toll booths. None neither is true; especially if you travel thru Delaware. Another good idea botched by our politicians!!

Marylanders think about this: We would not have had to build and pay for a second Bay Bridge, if the toll had just been removed instead...

"ds80" is just a handle. I am John Galt. Hence I am canceling. Screw 'em.

When you send it back make sure you mail it in the bag it came in so you don't get hit with the tolls on the drive to NY.