Kink in I-405 tolling system frustrating for bikers

An issue with the I-405 tolling system is proving to be quite the irritant for some people.

KING 5 reports motorcyclists are being charged for driving in the express lanes. It’s supposed to be free for them.

The state requires bikers to have a Good To Go! Pass in order to ride in the lanes for free. The Washington State Department of Transportation told bikers they do not need to activate the pass, KING 5 points out. However, some bikers are being charged.

Some of the passes just aren’t reading properly, KIRO Radio traffic reporter Chris Sullivan explains. As bikers drive through the tolls, their pass is supposed to read as exempt, he explains.

WSDOT is looking into the problem and suggests bikers make sure the pass works. Incorrectly installing the pass on a headlamp could prevent it from functioning properly.

Motorcycle riders have to have a pass in order to use the tolls, even though they are not charged. The pass allows the system to identify it as a motorcycle and is supposed to prevent the driver from being charged. It is the “most cost effective and accurate” method to identify motorcycles, WSDOT told KING 5.

The tolls went into effect on Sept. 27. Since then, a few problems have been reported. For one, WSDOT misinterpreted a law; originally believing that big rigs were not allowed in the express lanes because of weight restrictions. That is not the case. On top of that, the number of collisions doubled as compared to the same week last year.

Luckily, bikers won’t have to wait for WSDOT to figure out a permanent solution to the problem some face. The department is refunding those who have been charged for riding through the tolls on a motorcycle.

That seems to be the only solution, however. So until a fix is made, bikers better have WSDOT on speed dial.