Toll Booth Scam [WARNING: NO POLITICS]

[Cybervox]

So I had to head into Pa yesterday, and when I came up to the toll booth, I readied my money and handed it to the guy (Toll is $6, I gave him $11 for easy change) He tells me I'm a little short and says it should be $18, I gave him a blank stare and said what??? He then whips out a paper that states Cybertrucks are 9,125 lbs, so I have to pay the $18. I laughed hard and informed him that my truck was under 6700 pounds. I took out my registration and showed the gvw of 6669lbs. He gets on the phone, makes a call and takes my $6. I told him he should take down the paper after being proven wrong and he tells me he has to go by the paper first, unless shown the registration, so look out guys, they are trying hard to scam you!

Sponsored

 

[CyberGus]

He then whips out a paper that states Cybertrucks are 9,125 lbs, so I have to pay the $18. I laughed hard and informed him that my truck was under 6700 pounds.

The distinction there is between GVWR (Gross Vehicle Weight Rating), which is the maximum weight with cargo, and the curb weight when empty.

Tesla lists the GVWR of the Cybertruck as between 8,834 lbs and 9,169 lbs, while the curb weight is
6,634 lbs to 6,898 lbs depending on model and trim (excluding the LR-model unicorn):

https://www.tesla.com/ownersmanual/cybertruck/en_us/GUID-12A976DD-EB60-431B-AFF1-5A37E95006DB.html


So, you were both correct about the respective weights, but we would need to know the actual basis for the toll rates.

From looking at the PA Turnpike Toll Schedule, the rate classes are based solely on the number of axles and overall dimensions.

​

"When using the Pennsylvania Turnpike and Turnpike Extensions, your toll will be based on the number of axles your vehicle has, or number of axles and low/high profile. Please see charts below."​

It's unclear why the Cybertruck was classified as basically a commercial cargo truck, or why the weight mattered. (There are fees for "overweight" trucks, but those require permits and aren't applicable to ordinary passenger vehicles.)

Of course, this wouldn't the first time that a municipality has conflated curb weight with GVWR (such as for registration), so it might be an error. But it might not!

 

[nevetsyad]

Grok says:

Toll booth operators appear to be using the GVWR (or a printed guideline based on it) to classify the Cybertruck as a heavier vehicle requiring a higher toll class, likely bumping it from a standard Class 1 (passenger cars, typical 2-axle light vehicles) into a Class 2 or similar weight-based category (e.g., 7,001+ lbs or specifically over 9,000 lbs thresholds in some contexts).

ChatGPT says these quire guidelines went out of use 12 months ago though, provides a dead html link. Grok confirms, weight no longer used for tolls.

So, there's some shenanigans going on behind the scenes where they're trying to screw us over...

 

[mongo]

So I had to head into Pa yesterday, and when I came up to the toll booth, I readied my money and handed it to the guy (Toll is $6, I gave him $11 for easy change) He tells me I'm a little short and says it should be $18, I gave him a blank stare and said what??? He then whips out a paper that states Cybertrucks are 9,125 lbs, so I have to pay the $18. I laughed hard and informed him that my truck was under 6700 pounds. I took out my registration and showed the gvw of 6669lbs. He gets on the phone, makes a call and takes my $6. I told him he should take down the paper after being proven wrong and he tells me he has to go by the paper first, unless shown the registration, so look out guys, they are trying hard to scam you!

GVW is usually the actual weight of the vehicle, but not for the Walt Whitman and other bridges which go by the registration.

Regarding the registration:
If the truck had a commercial registration, the weight would be the GVWR (the 9k number)
For personal vehicles, the weight is the shipping/ curb weight (your 6k number).

 

[SlegMD]

Shite. His unwillingness to adapt from his interaction with you is shite. Glad you were ready though.

 

[mongo]

The distinction there is between GVWR (Gross Vehicle Weight Rating), which is the maximum weight with cargo, and the curb weight when empty.

Tesla lists the GVWR of the Cybertruck as between 8,834 lbs and 9,169 lbs, while the curb weight is
6,634 lbs to 6,898 lbs depending on model and trim (excluding the LR-model unicorn):

https://www.tesla.com/ownersmanual/cybertruck/en_us/GUID-12A976DD-EB60-431B-AFF1-5A37E95006DB.html


So, you were both correct about the respective weights, but we would need to know the actual basis for the toll rates.

From looking at the PA Turnpike Toll Schedule, the rate classes are based solely on the number of axles and overall dimensions.

​

"When using the Pennsylvania Turnpike and Turnpike Extensions, your toll will be based on the number of axles your vehicle has, or number of axles and low/high profile. Please see charts below."​

It's unclear why the Cybertruck was classified as basically a commercial cargo truck, or why the weight mattered. (There are fees for "overweight" trucks, but those require permits and aren't applicable to ordinary passenger vehicles.)

Of course, this wouldn't the first time that a municipality has conflated curb weight with GVWR (such as for registration), so it might be an error. But it might not!

I think it was the bridge toll, not the turnpike.

 

[Cybervox]

Yes exactly the bridge toll, not the Pa turnpike. I just wanted to give you guys a heads up, thats all, something definitely feels off.

 

[mongo]

Yes exactly the bridge toll, not the Pa turnpike. I just wanted to give you guys a heads up, thats all, something definitely feels off.

Thanks for the heads up!
The jump in fee at 7k is crazy.

 

[CyberGus]

For bridges, I still see the tolls based on axles and dimensions:

https://www.drjtbc.org/currenttolls​

There is no mention of weight nor GVWR. The Cybertruck should definitely be Class 1 (passenger vehicle).

¯\_(ツ)_/¯

 

[FarAway]

So, if you were paying with EZ pass would you have known or just been robbed?

 

[Cybervox]

" So, if you were paying with EZ pass would you have known or just been robbed? "


100% the reason why I brought this here, I'm not sure. If anyone else has this issue please let us know.

 

[mongo]

For bridges, I still see the tolls based on axles and dimensions:

https://www.drjtbc.org/currenttolls​

There is no mention of weight nor GVWR. The Cybertruck should definitely be Class 1 (passenger vehicle).

¯\_(ツ)_/¯

Walt Whitman Bridge has a different fee schedule. $6 total for under 7k pounds, $9 per axle above 7k:

https://www.turnpikes.com/new-jersey/tolls/roads/?name=walt-whitman-bridge
Edit: it's under thr Delaware River Port Authority , not DRJTBC

 

[Electric Metal]

So I had to head into Pa yesterday, and when I came up to the toll booth, I readied my money and handed it to the guy (Toll is $6, I gave him $11 for easy change) He tells me I'm a little short and says it should be $18, I gave him a blank stare and said what??? He then whips out a paper that states Cybertrucks are 9,125 lbs, so I have to pay the $18. I laughed hard and informed him that my truck was under 6700 pounds. I took out my registration and showed the gvw of 6669lbs. He gets on the phone, makes a call and takes my $6. I told him he should take down the paper after being proven wrong and he tells me he has to go by the paper first, unless shown the registration, so look out guys, they are trying hard to scam you!

Yeah, they whipped out the paper on me on the Commodore Barry Bridge coming into Pa. From NJ. I immediately went to the tag store and dropped it down to 7000 lbs. My tag was expiring the next month so it worked out perfectly. Now when I cross the bridge they get on the phone EVERY TIME AND IT STARTS THIS WHOLE SHITSHOW. I actually had to pull over to the side and a higher up came out to look at my paperwork. After about 5 minutes I finally said “ do you want my $6.00 or not, I’m leaving, I’ve been here long enough and actually you have Zero authority to detain me, and you’re lucky I even pulled over, so you make the decision.” He said he would be right back and I drove off. Fuckem.

 

[Professor]

Tell them you're heavy because you just filled up.

 

[Cybervox]

Yep! Same bridge, I know its well beyond time to move out of NJ, but with crap like this, its only making it worse. I wonder if they have a paper for Rivians, and Hummers? Or if they just decide to target only Cybertrucks, anyone able to test that?

Sponsored