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County Clerk pushing to get EZPass sold at DMV

By Howard B. Owens

Soon, Gensee County residents could have another convenient location -- and perhaps one of the more logical places -- to buy EZPass for Thruway tolls -- the local DMV office.

On Wednesday, County Clerk Don Read received approval from the Ways and Means Committee (the proposal must also be approved by the full Legislature) to establish a funding mechanism to buy EZPass stickers to resell at the DMV and County Clerk's office.

"We’d like to be the first one in the county where somebody could come in, know they’re traveling this weekend and pick up an EZPass and they can use it immediately," Read said.

The idea started at a meeting of the state's county clerks in Albany, Read said, when the Thruway Authority met with the clerks and offered to allow them to start selling the automatic toll passes.

Getting started takes some effort, according to Read, from getting funding approval -- the passes must be paid for in advance -- to filling out a tightly spaced eight-page application.

If the program doesn't work, though, Read said, the County won't be out any money. Any unsold EZpasses can be returned to the Thruway Authority for a full refund.

Melissa George

The Genesee County Chamber of Commerce has been selling EZ Passes since 2006.

They are $25, the hours of the Chamber is Monday - Friday, 8am - 4:30pm located at 210 East Main Street, Batavia.

If you have questions on the EZ Pass program that Genesee County Chamber of Commerce has been offering, our number is 585-343-7440.

May 7, 2010, 10:43am Permalink
bud prevost

I have also seen them for sale at some retail locations. Check to see if you can purchase them from a corner store, or some other establishment. I'd rather see them make the small profit.

May 7, 2010, 11:32am Permalink
Sean Valdes

While I think it's very nice of the County Clerk to offer a convenient service to the DMV customers, it bothers me that the County would be competing with private businesses - especially smaller local grocers and convenient marts. Maybe a nice little poster offering EZPass at the following Genesee County locations would do? While I'm not sure about the legality, maybe purchasing the tags from a local business at a slight discount, giving both the business and the county the extra revenue.

As government looks for ways to increase revenue to offset expenses, I think it's important that government does not compete with the businesses that help sustain it. Of course, a more ideal option is to cut expenses and services, but that's probably not going to happen.

May 7, 2010, 2:11pm Permalink
Mark Potwora

Yea lets all wait in five different line that will take at least an hr.,to get something we can get on the internet at DMV site in five minutes or at local store..

May 7, 2010, 7:17pm Permalink
Mark Potwora

Yes you do Lorie..But it takes only minutes..And you do use your credit card to keep a balance on it.I think its a min.of 15 dollars.This way you never worry about running out of money on your E-Z pass..Our local DMV have a hard time keeping up with what they do now,lets not add until they get there service time per customer under control..I stay away from there at all costs..mail everything in or do it on the DMV web site..

May 8, 2010, 2:44am Permalink

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