Veterans could get half-price tolls on New Jersey highways

On New Jersey toll roads, the difference between a normal trip and a cheaper one could come down to veteran status. A bill in Trenton would require the New Jersey Turnpike Authority, or NJTA, and the South Jersey Transportation Authority, or SJTA, to cut electronic tolls by 50% for eligible veterans, day or night.

The discount would apply whenever those drivers pass through an electronic toll collection system, which makes it a direct break on a cost many people pay over and over, not a one-time benefit.

Who would qualify

The bill defines a veteran as a New Jersey resident who was discharged honorably or under general honorable conditions from the armed forces, a reserve component or a state National Guard. It also includes certain honorably discharged World War II Merchant Marine members who are eligible for federal veterans’ benefits.

To get the discount, the vehicle would have to be owned or leased by the veteran, registered in New Jersey and tied to an active New Jersey electronic toll collection account. The savings would be available at all hours.

Where the savings show up

This is a road-cost story more than a ceremonial one. Tolls can be a small line item on one trip and a real burden across a month of commuting, medical appointments, family visits or airport runs. Cutting them in half would leave more money in eligible drivers’ pockets each time they cross.

The bill is sponsored by Sens. Angela McKnight and Carmen Amato, with Sen. Latham Tiver as a cosponsor. If it becomes law, it would take effect on the first day of the ninth month after enactment.