Is America a "FREE" or "FEE" Country?

You may not be aware that new "open road tolling" has gone into effect as of July 19th. For those driving around various highways in Miami-Dade County, a Sunpass is now the most cost effective way to go through these open toll areas.  The county has installed new seemless fast drive through toll scanners with cameras on the 878,  the 874 / Don Shula, and the Gratigny Expressways.  These key highways connect areas such as Coral Gables and South Miami to Kendall and the Turnpike south towards Homestead and the Florida Keys.  There are no manned booths at these stations, so you must have a sunpass or your license tag will be charged.

And they are "selling us" on this idea...

• with the benefit of less traffic and accidents around toll booths.
• saying that there will be less carbon emissions from cars idol on the highway.
• That everyone will now "only" pay the part of the road they drive on.

How does this effect you? Depending on how many exits you pass, the charge is based on a fee scanner prior to every exit on the road. This cost will most likely add up to more than what you were paying prior to the new open road installation, especially if you go through the old tolling area as well.

For example, if you prevously entered the 878 Expressway from US1 just north of Kendall Drive and then desired to exit by Metro Zoo (SW 152 ST), you would have previously paid a .75 cent toll.  Now (with Sunpass) you will pay $1.00.  Say you want to jump on the 878 just to exit Kendall.  Now you will pay .50 cents where prior to that it was free.  That is where the tax collectors are benefitting... all the prior "free" travel.

Photo of New Sunpass Mini

It's very important to note that without the use of a Sunpass transmitter, the fees will be charged by license plate.  A .15 cent surcharge will be tacked on to the regular fee for each toll charged by plate.

As you can tell, the author is not thrilled with this new idea but I suppose that is part of living in a "pay per click" state (Florida), where we have no state income tax.  Revenues are needed to build roads (and toll plazas) so taxes are charged on a per usage basis.  Click here to read more about open road tolling in Miami Dade.  Happy Trails to you!