Bridge Execs Get Free E-ZPass Tolls

Delaware River Port Authority commissioners get a lifetime exemption from bridge tolls, and one former government employee who has to cross the river regularly says that is unfair.

The agency's 16 commissioners are not charged tolls on the Walt Whitman, Ben Franklin, Betsy Ross or Commodore Barry bridges, and neither are past commissioners.

Each can also get up to three E-ZPass transponders, meaning family members can cross for free as well.

The current commissioners include Pennsylvania Gov. Ed Rendell, who serves as chairman, and New Jersey's Camden County Freeholder Director Jeffrey Nash, who is vice chairman.

Rendell's spokeswoman said he doesn't use the benefit and Nash said he has a separate E-ZPass account that he pays for out of his own pocket.

Michael DeFilippo, retired assistant director of Camden County's drug abuse program, acknowledges that commissioners are unpaid but says "they make a heck of a lot more money than most of the people crossing the bridges every day."

The criticism comes as the agency is trying to decide whether to cut discounts for bridge commuters who use the E-ZPass electronic toll-collection system in order to close a $15 million budget deficit.

DeFilippo said he plans to bring up the exemption for commissioners at the hearing on eliminating the E-ZPass discounts.

Each can also get up to three E-ZPass transponders, meaning family members can cross for free as well.

The current commissioners include Pennsylvania Gov. Ed Rendell, who serves as chairman, and New Jersey's Camden County Freeholder Director Jeffrey Nash, who is vice chairman.

Rendell's spokeswoman said he doesn't use the benefit and Nash said he has a separate E-ZPass account that he pays for out of his own pocket.

Michael DeFilippo, retired assistant director of Camden County's drug abuse program, acknowledges that commissioners are unpaid but says "they make a heck of a lot more money than most of the people crossing the bridges every day."

The criticism comes as the agency is trying to decide whether to cut discounts for bridge commuters who use the E-ZPass electronic toll-collection system in order to close a $15 million budget deficit.

DeFilippo said he plans to bring up the exemption for commissioners at the hearing on eliminating the E-ZPass discounts.

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