SEATTLE As drivers get ready for tolls on the State Route 520 floating bridge, the state says it has now sold more than 100,000 new Good to Go passes.
But there is a problem: The most popular version of the new passes can't be shut off, and that could lead to unwanted charges for drivers on Highway 167.
Here's how it works. Toll readers on the 520 bridge will automatically scan your Good to Go sticker and deduct the toll from a prepaid account. If you don't have a sticker, a photo of your car is taken and the toll is mailed to the registered owner. So, shutting off the pass is not an issue, because everyone must pay the toll on the 520 bridge.
The problem is when you hit Highway 167. Since the sticker can't be shut off, you may be charged inadvertently by the state's High Occupancy Toll (HOT) Lanes. The HOT lanes are carpool lanes, but solo drivers can use them as long as they have a Good to Go pass.
So, if you have the new Good to Go sticker, but still have two or more people in your vehicle, you might still get charged on Highway 167.
The new sticker, we don't have a way to turn those off, said Patty Rubstello, Director of Toll System Development.
WSDOT says this not an oversight, but a deliberate decision.
The new pass is being sold at Safeway stores. The one most drivers are buying is the $5 windshield sticker. But for $8, you can buy a moveable pass which you can turn off by putting in a bag. For $12, you can buy a pass that has an on/off switch.
The new stickers could be a bigger problem as the state looks to expand HOT lanes to Interstate 405.
You can't buy those moveable or switchable passes at Safeway. You either have to go online or go to a state customer service center.
Also, some customers who bought their stickers at Safeway say they can't get it to activate when they register online. WSDOT says it just learned of the problem and hasn't figured out if customers are entering wrong numbers or if there are some duplicate numbers. It says if you can't register your sticker, call the customer service center.
Another problem is that the new passes are not compatible on the Tacoma Narrows Bridge. The state is working on that problem.
