Manhattan Residents Challenge Congestion Pricing Charges from Garages

Residents of Manhattan living within the congestion pricing zone are raising concerns about being incorrectly charged tolls when exiting their own garages. Many have reported instances where congestion pricing cameras misclassify exits as entries, leading to unexpected charges on their E-ZPass accounts.

Residents living below 60th Street anticipate paying tolls upon returning home. However, several claim they are also billed upon leaving. Roslyn Seale, a resident of Manhattan Plaza, shared her experience of being charged multiple times while exiting her garage. Her E-ZPass statement revealed five charges on separate dates between 8:51 a.m. and 9:57 a.m., with an additional charge for August 17 at 1:01 p.m. “If it’s a morning charge, I know that’s automatically an incorrect charge,” she stated.

The Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) was shown Seale’s charges by CBS News New York, which found that only one charge was deemed incorrect. According to the MTA, Seale entered the zone at 10:30 p.m. instead of the reported time. She has since received a refund but is advocating for greater transparency regarding the tolling process. “We have no proof as to what time we came back into the zone,” Seale expressed.

Seale is not alone in her frustrations. Neighbors have echoed similar concerns, questioning the accuracy of the charges. State Senator Brad Hoylman-Sigal emphasized that residents should not incur charges for exiting garages located within the zone. “We’ve spoken to the MTA on numerous occasions. They understand the problem… But we’re still getting reports that residents are being charged,” he noted.

When asked about the camera placements and the potential for misclassifications, an MTA spokesperson affirmed that the agency routinely updates its software to prevent overcharging. “The MTA, like tolling agencies worldwide, regularly updates its software to ensure that no one is charged more than the going rate,” the spokesperson stated. Residents who believe they have been incorrectly charged can request a review of their accounts.

Hoylman-Sigal has received assurances from the MTA that recent technical adjustments aim to address these issues. “I’m hopeful that the latest change that they’ve instituted will do just that, but the jury is still out,” he said.

For those affected by congestion pricing, the MTA advises drivers to regularly check their statements and enable account alerts. If a charge appears erroneous, customers have 180 days to dispute it. Disputes must be submitted in writing, either by fax to 718-390-9772 or mailed to:

E-ZPass Customer Account Correspondence
PO Box 15187
Albany, NY 12212-5187

Customers are encouraged to include supporting information along with their dispute, as outlined on the MTA’s website. Additional resources are available through the Office of the MTA Toll Payer Advocate, which operates independently within the MTA. For more information on how to manage toll payments, visit mta.info/fares-tolls/tolls/how-to-pay-tolls.