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No More E-ZPasses For Maryland Lawmakers

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Legislators in Maryland could lose their free E-Z Passes.

The speaker of Maryland's House of Delegates and the president of the state senate have asked the state transportation authority to terminate the legislative branch's E-Z Pass program. The program allowed scores of lawmakers to avoid paying for the electronic toll-collection service.

In July, the authority imposed a $1.50-a-month fee on E-Z Pass customers and began charging $21 for the transponders. It's unclear how much the move would save, but an authority spokeswoman tells the Baltimore Sun the 137 non-revenue transponders issued to state senators and delegates in fiscal year 2008 recorded 2,300 transactions.

About 15,000 government employees and officials in the state have the free accounts. Lawmakers would still be able to receive reimbursement for tolls.

Natalie Neumann reports...

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