Beware Illinois rip-off tolls

[itsaparent]

Today, nearly a year and a half after I flew to Chicago for my son's boot camp graduation, I received a bill from Budget rent-a-car for a 1.50 toll, a 20.00 IL fine, and a 25.00 Budget administration fee.
I admit we missed a toll when we were trapped by traffic and our lane turned into an E-ZPASS or IPass lane. I would have been happy to pay it if they had just notified us (there are no toll roads in our state so it was not a familiar process).
There is no getting through to the IL toll violations phone number...it is always busy. In fact, in May 2008 there was a law suit filed against the state of IL because the Pass holders couldn't get through to challenge their citations. I read that up to 25% of the camera photos are incorrect in identifying the vehicle.
Budget didn't tell us anything about the auto toll payment when we rented the car, but apparently for a small amount a day it will automatically bill your tolls so you can't be robbed by the state of IL.
I hate to think of all the out of state people unfamiliar with automatic tolls going to their child's graduation and getting nailed by IL, so I thought I'd post a warning to those of you going to graduation.

On a brighter note, congratulations to those of you going for graduation!:-)

[Hoppi aka Angie]

http://www.illinoistollway.com/portal/page?_pageid=133,1&_dad=p...

If you do miss a toll, you can go to the web site and click on "pay a missed toll"

I know it dosen't help the OP, but it can help someone else.

[itsaparent]

All good points.
I guess with the errors that are made even for I-Pass holders I would stay out of the left lanes and keep right. When traffic is bad it is nearly impossible to get over to the right hand lanes to avoid the I-Pass lanes.
OR, ask your car rental agency if they have one of the I-Pass programs you can sign up for with your rental and hope the state of IL doesn't make a mistake.

[lemonelephant]

On the way back from the graduation we got into the far right lane to get off on our exit, and saw the sign for toll booth ahead. Assuming that this toll booth would be like the previous booths, we got into the far right lane so we could pay at the booth. Instead of being pay booths on the far right it was an Ipass lane but there was no warning until we were right on it and we were surounded by traffic. At all of the previous toll booths the left lanes had been for Ipass and the far right were for cash, but at this booth it was exactly opposite with a curve and no warning. Hmm... think they did that on purpose? We haven't gotten a ticket yet but we'll keep an eye on the mail a year from now. I'll never understand why states with toll roads always have worse roads than states without.

[itsaparent]

Ronda, I would go to the IL toll site and see if you can access the toll you missed. If you were driving a rental car, IL sends the citation fine to the rental car agency who then sends it to you via another company who tacks on an administration fee.
I got it reduced from 25 to 10 by calling them, but maybe you can bypass the whole thing by going to the web site and seeing if you can pay it before they send it to the car rental company.

[lemonelephant]

It was in my own car and was in October. I will try to get as much info as I can and call soon and see what I can do.

[justme_2009]

I never heard of these tolls before ....learn something everyday.
It's nice that someone told us about it . thanks again .

[justme_2009]

Which lane is safe to be in IPAss or Toll lanes ? Chicago must be the only city who
has toll lines.

[lemonelephant]

Stay away from the I-Pass lane unless you have an I-Pass. Watch closely so you get in one of the cash lanes. Cash lanes are to the right at Mainline Toll Plazas, but as happened to us, at ramps this is not always the case. Have plenty of quarters and nickels because the rates vary depending on the booth.

[Diane, Proud mother of Jeff!]

This is all great information for me since I have never been to Chicago, I'll be staying in the right hand lanes..... that way I don't have to worry.

[justme_2009]

I agree with you .

[H2Hmom]

We had a GPS unit and told it to avoid the toll roads. It took us on a nice route, with no tolls, and very few cars.

[Cyndie R]

Okay.. aren't GPS's great!!... Do you remember what the routes were?