16 signs now alert drivers to pay new Tacoma Narrows bridge toll

Another person who is not from the area here. Coincidence? Are you kidding?

This is INFURIATING and anyone who wants to leap to defend it is obviously blind to the fact that this is unquestionably a money making trap. I have NEVER received a ticket (until now). I am familiar with tolls and as one poster commented -- a normal toll bridge includes indications with very clear markings above the lanes and often involves stopping (didn't see anyone stopping).

The indications near this bridge are enough to alert someone from outside the area that tolls are involved with the bridge. Yes. When we crossed, the signs made it sound like -- to everyone in the car -- this (a toll) was something that would begin on Sept. 13. Apparently that note had some relation to the "good to go" whatchamacallit. We had absolutely no idea where we were supposed to go, or what to do, or if there was a toll, or if it was rush hour tolling etc.

Mel from Portland is right. How about "pre-paid pass only"... Enough. We all know what it is. It's sick that people feel good making a living and supporting a community by essentially financially raping visitors/guests. Remember-- most of us on here would have been fine paying the toll if we had understood the set-up! Maybe next time I should stop in the middle of the road get rear ended, sue the state/county for confusing signs that caused my life altering injuries and perpetuate the kind of buggery this is! These people are SICK.

If this many people have come to complain on an obscure board on the vast www, it makes one wonder how many others just take it and never realize the scope of the Tacoma Narrows Scam.

Obviously, locals know about it. It is also clear that there is something terribly wrong with the system for those not "in the know". To suggest otherwise is madness at best.

Jeez, this isn't rocket science people. The signs have always been there. Sure, where some too late to alert drivers...I can believe that. But it was corrected. Anyone that gets a ticket for running the toll is...sorry for my lack of PC, just not that bright. Do I agree with the tolls, no. However, the state has been honest with their signs to make it clear that people without a pass must pay. Anyone that runs the toll, claims ignorance, then compains here, just makes my day better. I'm smarter than the rest...I can read signs. Comic relief!

George the Great wrote:

Jeez, this isn't rocket science people. The signs have always been there. Sure, where some too late to alert drivers...I can believe that. But it was corrected. Anyone that gets a ticket for running the toll is...sorry for my lack of PC, just not that bright. Do I agree with the tolls, no. However, the state has been honest with their signs to make it clear that people without a pass must pay. Anyone that runs the toll, claims ignorance, then compains here, just makes my day better. I'm smarter than the rest...I can read signs. Comic relief!

A toll bridge that require one to exit is archaic. Additionally, when I made my rebel-without-a-cause un-intended $52 contribution to your state-- I was using the Car Pool lane. It turns out this makes it even more likely that I would end up taking my turn bending over in the out of state line up for the Pierce County criminals/scammers biting at the bit to have their pokes (at my wallet).

Sorry, but the less intelligent ones are likely the ones that are accustomed to citations. To be fair, perspective is a BIG deal and for a local who is familiar with this I am sure the layout looks completely intuitive. Remember that if perspective is even slightly different, the same event or item appears completely different. Take a look at a number of toll bridges back east in major metropolitan areas that handle much more traffic than the Tacoma Narrows Bridge. In most cases, they are engineered in ways that leave little room for varying perspective. If one wants to cross and intends to pay, it would be challenging to avoid the booth.

Bottom line-- Snarky remarks about intelligence, and name-calling considered (let us say it is all valid and true), there is no way to reasonably avoid another truth. The truth is, when this many people who WANTED to simply pay the toll end up getting cited by surprise, there is a problem with the layout. This problem is one that intelligent people could resolve and likely would IF THEY WANTED TO.

I'm from Portland and got a $52 ticket for not paying the toll. Back in mid August i crossed the bridge for the first time. I knew it was a toll long before i got to it but the signs were not clear enough to direct me to the right lanes... until it was too late and i couldn't get over because of traffic. What a bunch of crap! I had my money out and was ready to pay the $4 but now have to pay $52! Is there any way to fight this!?

Yes, bamboomer. The powers that be have recognized that some people can't get over with about a one mile warning so you can fight it. Read some of the posts in this thread to find out how.

George,

I did read many of the posts, but it seems this thread has had little activity over the last year. I think the class action suit must have fizzled out because the link is broken. I couldn't sue anyway... haven't paid anything...yet. I just found the ticket mixed with junk mail and it must have arrived mid Oct. so my 15 days to respond has elapsed. I'm tempted to just send them $4 which was the cost of the toll. I see no reason to pay a fine for their piss poor design.

I agree that we as a State are hurting for munny.
On the other hand, I don't like the totalitarian opportunity of the State to record your license plate as you go over that bridge.

DRIVE BY wrote:

<quoted text>
**ACCIDENTAL**MISTAKE::
IF YOU ARE ANGRY, you should look in the mirror and ask why am I so angry? Maybe it's
because you are one of those drivers that take
risk.You thought that you could get out of the
real problem that you have. It could be that you
could not read all of the signs that are before the bridge. Or your father gave you unwanted attention with the paddle,so therfore you are
resistant to AUTHORITY. Your facebook site will
get you nowhere fast.
If you are needy for attention,go to the courts to fight the ticket. If you win Yaah for you. If you loose as expected do not cry like your doing on this thread.

I wasn't even driving but I do understand why you would say this^^. Fact: The left lanes are express lanes for a ticket for people without a good to go pass(non locals). Try imagine looking in the mirror after killing or seriously injuring other drivers by breaking more serious laws like crossing several lanes of highway traffic at the last second in attempt to make toll both in which you had no intentions of running in the first place. Think about it. If you are traveling, you are to use the left lanes of the highway. READ YOUR DL HANDBOOK ISSUED BY THE STATE. The fact that you only pay one way on the bridge is also misleading. On the way back I was not expecting a toll and neither was the driver but it was to late to safely cross all lanes of traffic in time (the tolls are only located on the right side of the highway/bridge). At night you are most likely to make this error as well if traveling in the left lanes. First time offenders should be given a break. Especially if the offense occurred during the night hours. A judge unwilling to see this as a problem is not a judge I would chose for reelection (im not a local and can't vote in this county go figure). If you speed, it's your fault but this is a non moving violation and should not be painted with the same brush. People who speed through small towns located among highways like HWY 2 are not usually locals and a lot of the time are ignorant to speed reduction signs and speed limits as they are easily overlooked when traveling great distances. This is where I agree that ignorance is no excuse for the law. I however do not find this toll to be fair for people (non locals) traveling in the left lanes like they are taught to do in order to reduce traffic and accidents from cars exiting and entering the highway from the right side of the highway. This toll system is a poor design but I can understand the options they had when building it but I can not understand why a judge would over look this fact for first time offenders.

Well unfortunately my fine went up to $77 and was set to go even higher next week if i didn't pay it so i reluctantly sent my check yesterday! I was tempted to write the check for $4 but didn't want to risk getting in more trouble over a dumbass thing like this. I hope they improved the signage so out-of-towners know which lane to get in before having to make late and dangerous lane changes.

Washington... i hope you'll spend my money wisely! Maybe use it for the sign improvement.

Larry Hinze wrote:

If they had to put up 16 new signs, I must not be the only one that had the problem of not seeing the sign...DOUCHE BAG.
TAKE PIERCE COUNTY AND STICK IT UP YOUR ASS!

Such a scam! I was new there & so confusing! Was in wrong lane by ACCIDENT as MANY others too! I concur DOUCHE BAG, for taking obvious wrong side.