STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. -- While the city's new cashless tolling system has helped alleviate traffic near the Verrazano-Narrows Bridge, some residents say it's costing them a fortune.

Various Staten Islanders have complained that certain features associated with the new cashless tolling system have led to excessive fines levied by E-ZPass.

Some residents have argued that the removal of individual toll plazas that gave visual indications of low balances have resulted in numerous fines.

Assemblyman Ron Castorina and Councilman Joe Borelli issued a joint press release in late August encouraging E-ZPass to provide low balance notifications as part of the cashless tolling system.

"Staten Islanders are all too familiar with deception when it comes to the tolls at our bridges and tunnels here in New York," said Borelli.

The press release described the current cashless tolling system as depriving customers of transparency and notification.

"Increasing technology to facilitate the flow of traffic for the many commuters of Staten Island remains of paramount importance; however it must happen responsibly and with a high level of accountability," said Castorina.

10 DAYS FOR REPLENISHMENT

According to the MTA, customers are given 10 days to replenish their accounts before the first violation is sent.

If the account is replenished before the 10-day period is up, no violation is sent.

"If the account is not replenished within this period, a first violation notice is issued for the toll, plus a $50 or $100 fee per transaction, depending upon the facility, and the customer has 30 days to pay," said an MTA spokesperson.

If the first violation is not paid, a second violation will be issued with an additional 30 days to pay.

The MTA encourages customers to utilize other notification programs, such as mobile alerts.

"The use of an E-ZPass when there are no funds available is a violation and can result in fees being assessed. To avoid this situation, we highly recommend our customers sign up for E-ZPass mobile alerts, where they can receive important information regarding their E-ZPass account, including low balance notifications," said the MTA spokesperson.

Customers can visit the E-ZPass website to register for mobile alerts on the Account Profile page.

FULL TOLL FOR HOV?

Others have complained that despite flipping the switch on their E-ZPass to indicate they are traveling in a high-occupancy vehicle (HOV), they are still being charged the non-discounted toll for the Verrazano-Narrows Bridge.

As part of E-ZPass's Staten Island Resident discount plan, borough residents are supposed to be charged a $5.50 toll, and a $3.20 toll when traveling in a high-occupancy vehicle. The bridge toll for non-residents is $17.

Sal Lopes, of Westerleigh, says he has been charged the full toll multiple times while driving in the HOV lane because the rear windows on his vehicle are made of the manufacturer's stock tinted glass.

Lopes said he went to the E-ZPass office on South Avenue, and the agents pulled up the photos of his car passing through the toll. But the images showed only the driver and the front-seat passenger, they did not show the passenger Lopes alleged was seated in the back.

To be eligible for the Staten Island Carpool Plan, you must be a Staten Island resident, your vehicle must be registered on Staten Island, and there must be at least three people traveling in the car.

"It made me wonder how they're going to be able to prove that there are three or more people in the car instead of auto charging the full price," said Lopes.

He said that because he is on a pay-as-you-go plan, he was able to notice the issue relatively quickly.

"I feel bad for people who don't have pay-as-you-go and it's getting deducted from a credit card and they don't check on a daily basis," Lopes added.

Another frustrated resident claimed that the cameras at the cashless tolling plaza did not recognize his grandchildren in the back seat of his vehicle when passing through the HOV lane.

Upon arriving at the E-ZPass office, he claimed he was told the camera could not see his grandchildren, and to have them roll down the windows and wave to the camera while passing.

When asked about the claims that passengers were not visible in the photos taken at the toll plaza, the MTA declined to comment.

The agency reminds customers they must switch their HOV tag on when there are three or more passengers in the vehicle.

"There's going to be growing pains as it goes on, switching to cashless, but when your dealing with hundreds of dollars it can leave an unsettling taste in your mouth," said Lopes.