The clouds of dark smoke billowed in the sky as a brush fire closed I-95 Sunday as we were driving home from Fort Lauderdale.  We ran into it at 2:30pm.  I was glad for GPS because I got a Google alert letting me know traffic was ahead. It showed me I could get onto the turnpike 6 miles ahead at the Northlake Blvd exit. It took about 30 minutes to travel the 6 miles then I headed west to the Turnpike. I haven’t taken it for about 15 years and didn’t recall where the exits were. The Turnpike runs parallel and right alongside I-95 for a good stretch down south. But my exit is Hwy 192 which is in Kissimmee, 40 minutes west of I-95. I wanted to find the first exit I could get off once I was north of the brush fires.  

I discovered that the Turnpike now is SunPass only. At first I hesitated to get on since I don’t have SunPass. But it was the only way home since US1 and AIA are together down there and that was where emergency vehicles were accessing the scene of the fire. My hesitation was brief then I asked myself, “What is the worst that can happen if I get on the Turnpike and don’t have SunPass?” I figured I’d have to pay a maximum fine or a violation ticket but it would still be our quickest way home.

I went through the ticket lane and even though I did not have a ticket, they allowed me to pay $12 which is the maximum toll. A friend told me that had I just sped through the SunPass lane, they would have only sent a bill to my home for the amount of the toll (about $2.30.) I was told that before I got to the toll booth but then I saw the sign that said like $100 fine for going through without paying. I should have just driven through the SunPass only lane. I know now for the future.

RELATED: Florida Turnpike Sunpass Info