Barbara Lipsky of Brighton, New York, knew something was wrong when she noticed several charges by E-ZPass — an electronic toll collection system — on her credit card in January and February. After four charges of $25 each, she called the service to ask for an explanation.
When the E-ZPass representative opened Lipsky’s account to investigate, the woman started laughing.
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“I asked, ‘What’s so funny?’” Lipsky recounted to News10NBC in a story published March 19. “She says, ‘Well, I just saw the picture. It’s a state police car with your license plate.’”
The license plate in question is 1M20, which somehow also got assigned to a state trooper vehicle. According to the local broadcaster, each time the state police car drove into Manhattan’s congestion pricing zone, it triggered the E-ZPass system — except Lipsky was the one charged. Brighton, it should be noted, is a five-and-a-half hour drive from Manhattan.
In total, Lipsky was charged nearly $150 by E-ZPass.
How did this mix-up happen?
Lipsky says her late husband originally received the 1M20 plate in the 1960s and she still uses it today. But somewhere along the line, a state police vehicle was issued the same license plate — something that isn’t supposed to happen.
The broadcaster says it received a statement from New York’s Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) explaining that when state police request a new fleet vehicle plate, they’re supposed to verify with the agency that the number isn’t already in use. But there was a mix-up in this case, and it had real consequences.
“It’s just spooky. It’s upsetting. It’s inconvenient. It’s all those things. And it’s starting to really cost me money,” Lipsky said.
Thankfully, after bringing up her case, News10NBC reports the Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) will reverse all charges against Lipsky. She was dinged 16 times for $144. The DMV also says it’s working to replace the state police vehicle’s duplicate license plate.
In a twist, state police told News10NBC the MTA has wrongly charged state police vehicles — which are supposed to be exempt from congestion pricing — upwards of $13,000 since the beginning of the year for driving in the Manhattan toll zone.
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How to protect yourself from erroneous toll charges
Mistakes like this are rare — but they still happen. Whether it’s a plate mix-up, a misread toll camera or the act of a fraudster, it’s important to catch these types of problems quickly and know how to resolve them.
Monitor your cards and toll pass accounts
Keep an eye on both your E-ZPass (or other toll accounts, like SunPass) and the credit card on file. Reviewing statements regularly will help you catch issues early.
Gather evidence
Collect any evidence, such as screenshots or toll photos from your account (if you have access to them) bank statements and photos of your car. Having evidence ready before you call to complain can help speed up the resolution.
Contact the toll agency
Each region has a different toll authority. Be prepared to explain the situation, provide any evidence and follow up if you don’t get a timely response.
Set up alerts for your cards
Some banks let you set up alerts for purchases over a certain amount or for specific vendors. These notifications can help you catch not just toll issues but also other types of fraud.
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This article provides information only and should not be construed as advice. It is provided without warranty of any kind.
