‘I Don’t Even Own That Car’: New Jersey Man Exposes E-ZPass for $52 Fine on Wrong Vehicle
NEW JERSEY — A New Jersey driver says he’s being wrongly fined by E-ZPass for a toll violation committed by a car he doesn’t own, in a town he’s never visited. The notice arrived with a $2.17 toll and a $50 administrative fee, but the photo evidence sent to him shows a vehicle that’s barely visible — and not his.
The $2.17 Violation That Cost $52.17
TikTok user @thetodd2 shared his story in a viral series of videos that have gained over 110,000 views, showing the violation notice he received from the New Jersey Turnpike Authority. The alleged violation occurred in Sayreville, New Jersey, roughly two and a half hours away from his home. “I don’t even know where that is,” he said, adding that he was home taking care of his son on the date in question.
The photo attached to his violation notice showed a dark, blurry rectangle with only taillights faintly visible. “I don’t own that car,” he said. “I own a 2500 truck. I’ve got motorcycles, trailers, campers — but not that.”
@thetodd2 My fiasco with EZPass #NJ #EZPASS #Tollviolation #Classaction #AdiministrationFEE
E-ZPass Insists They See the License Plate
When he called customer service to dispute the charge, the representative allegedly told him she could “see the license plate clearly” on her screen. Todd said that made no sense, since his printed photo was almost completely black. “They’re saying it’s clear to them, but they can’t tell me what kind of vehicle it is,” he said.
Even more suspicious, the license plate on the ticket had seven digits, while New Jersey standard plates have six, unless personalized. Todd confirmed he’s never owned a seven-digit tag and even checked records for the last 12 years of vehicles he’s owned to prove none matched the number.
Asked to Pay to Prove His Innocence
After multiple calls, Todd said the representative consulted a supervisor but then told him he’d need to buy a driver’s abstract — an official driving history report from the DMV — to prove the vehicle wasn’t his. The report costs $15 and takes up to seven days to receive.
When Todd asked if E-ZPass would reimburse him if the report proved his innocence, he claims they refused. “I didn’t suddenly wake up one day and decide to be a toll evader,” he said. “This is absurd.”
Customer Service Chaos
Frustrated by the lack of progress, Todd asked to speak to another supervisor. The same representative who had just said she’d consulted one then claimed no supervisor was available. She promised a callback by Tuesday — which never came.
Todd later found a slightly clearer image online, showing what looked like a hatchback, another type of vehicle he doesn’t own. He suspects that a temporary plate from a car he owned years ago might have been re-issued to someone else who never registered it properly with E-ZPass.
“Common sense should tell you that’s what happened,” he said. “They could easily see that the tag’s from ten years ago and fix this — but they won’t.”
The Bigger Problem
Todd said he’s now waiting for the DMV abstract to arrive before his 10-day appeal deadline expires. If the violation isn’t dismissed, the $52.17 fee could be sent to collections, damaging his credit.
Even if he proves the car isn’t his, Todd worries E-ZPass might still refuse to remove the charge. “They can look at my abstract and still say, ‘No, we think it’s you,’” he said. “What am I supposed to do then?”
Drivers Across New Jersey Relate
His story has struck a nerve with other New Jersey drivers. Commenters flooded his posts with their own frustrations:
“$50 admin fee on a $6 toll — it’s wild!” one wrote.
“Everything in NJ is becoming a scam. All they want is money,” another added.
One person shared, “E-ZPass charged me twice in two weeks. I tried calling — they said an hour wait. I gave up and let them keep the $60.”
A Push for Accountability
Todd says he’s considering organizing a class-action lawsuit if more drivers report similar issues. “If we each put in $50 to a lawyer, we could finally challenge this system,” he said. He insists he’s not fighting over two dollars — he’s fighting against being wrongly charged and ignored by a system meant to be automated and fair.
For now, Todd is waiting for his DMV report and hoping common sense — and accountability — will prevail.
Have you ever received a wrong E-ZPass violation notice? Share your experience and read more stories like this on FatCityFeed.com.
