Car's always a rental... Getting a citation would probably burn, but
hopefully the amount wouldn't be riddiculous. If taking a credit card
imprint or some such thing (with ID) were good enough, that would make
the most sense if you ask me, then they can be sure to get their money,
and perhaps charge some administration fee for dealing with someone who
"didn't know".

Seriously, it's not like we can just "turn around" on the bridge, go
back to the previous city we were in, and hit up an ABM for some cash
to cover the toll. Once you're there, with cars in front and behind
you, and it's one way... there is no way out of this one.

I won't make this mistake twice though, I'm going to be sure to carry a
pile of ones and some quarters in the glove box next time I travel to
the US, just in case I come across a place with a toll, and "didn't
know". I usually have cash, but sometimes "I just used it to fill up
the tank", and haven't gotten to a grocery store for cash back, or
reached one of my branches for banking yet.

Tolls don't occur so much in Canada. We have one on the 407 (but it's
well marked, and you don't HAVE to use that highway). Not to mention
you don't PAY the toll, they send a ticket to the rental company, who
sends a copy to the visitor, who then must repay. I know this because
some German Tourists in my town received such a ticket, sent it to
their host, who came to buy a money order from me and pay it for them.

There are bridge tolls from Canada to the US. Some are for both ways, I
think some might be one way (but I'm not sure about this, I thought all
International Bridges here had a toll for both directions, I could be
wrong). In such case, while thinking about making sure I have my
Canadian Passport, or in previous years, PR Card and UK passport, I
make sure we can cover the toll. Fortunately they take both currencies
at most bridges (in Upstate New York).

Aside from that... I don't know of any other tolls here.

S.

PeterL wrote:
Runge wrote:
and if you just were a foreign tourist ?

They'll send a ticket to the owner of the car.



"PeterL" a écrit dans le message de news:
...

Sapphyre wrote:
Hi,

I was in a situation, or almost in a situation, and just want to
know... "What would have happened??"

I was crossing from Oakland area to San Rafael, and because there is no
toll heading Southbound, I didn't know there was a Northbound toll.
Generally this kind of thing isn't a problem, but at the time, I had no
US cash on me. I was just heading an hour north of San Rafael to return
to my friend's place, to pack everything up and head to Reno, so at the
time, I didn't really need the cash.

Thankfully, my friend was in the car, and although he didn't know of
the toll either (because he didn't drive that way, he only knew of a
toll on the Golden Gate), he did happen to have cash and paid it.

So what would have happened if neither of us COULD pay the toll? What
do they do? I'm not exactly in a position to turn around on the bridge,
go back to Oakland and get some cash from an ATM. And I'm not intending
to rip them off either, but as far as I know, unless I'm wrong on this
one... cash is all they take.

Just wanted to know... I'm going to be wiser and make sure I keep some
small bills for emergencies, just in case this ever happens again. I
lasted in the US up until five days before I left with a supply of
change and one's for vending machines, tolls and laundry... I guess I
should have tried to last longer at that...

S.

You would leave some information with the toll collector, an address or
something like that, with your photo id to show it's your real address,
with a promise to pay.