511 Travel Info

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Enforcement

E-ZPass lanes enforcement

Dedicated full-time Minnesota State Patrol troopers enforce the E-ZPass lanes. The E-ZPass violation rate is 29%. In 2024, troopers stopped a total of 5,926 vehicles for traffic violations and issued a total of 3,385 traffic citations and 5,183 traffic warnings. Of those totals, 1,468 citations and 1,768 warnings were for E-ZPass violations. The remainder were for other violations.

Troopers use a variety of tools and techniques to identify E-ZPass violations.

  • They visually identify vehicles in the lane that do not have a valid E-ZPass tag.
  • They look for other occupants in the vehicle (if two or more, E-ZPass is free).
  • They use mobile equipment to verify if an E-ZPass tag is working, when it was last read, and if an individual’s account is in good standing.
  • They look for vehicles that illegally cross the double, solid white lines.
  • They use beacons and other technology to help identify whether a valid E-ZPass tag is in the vehicle.

When a potential violation is spotted, the troopers pull the suspected vehicle to the shoulder, either left or right, to verify occupancy and issue a citation or a warning. Depending on the county, an E-ZPass citation can cost up to $300.

While the E-ZPass troopers’ primary focus is to identify E-ZPass lane violations, they do not ignore other things such as speeding, distracted driving, mobile phone use, or expired tabs. They also assist with other incidents if needed.