Express Lanes terms and conditions

Express Lanes Customer Satisfaction Sweepstakes

Official Rules
NO PURCHASE NECESSARY.
VOID WHERE PROHIBITED BY LAW. The Express Lanes Customer Satisfaction Sweepstakes (the “Promotion”) begins at 12:01 a.m. ET on February 1, 2021, and ends at 11:59 p.m. ET on May 5, 2021 (the “Promotion Period”), subject to all applicable federal, state and local laws, regulations, and ordinances.

1. ELIGIBILITY: The Promotion is open only to persons who, as of the start of the Promotion Period, (1) are at least eighteen (18) years old or the age of majority, whichever is older, (2) are legal residents of the 50 United States (excluding Florida and New York) or the District of Columbia, and who, during the Promotional Period, have (3) contacted Express Lanes customer service, and (4) completed the customer satisfaction survey contained in the body of the email (the “Survey”) within five (5) days of email delivery during the applicable period set forth in Table 1 below,  Employees, officers, and directors of Transurban (USA) Operations Inc. (“Sponsor”) and those of its parent, affiliates, subsidiaries, representatives, consultants, contractors, legal counsel, advertising, public relations, promotional, fulfillment, and marketing agencies, web site providers, and web masters, as well as any of the immediate family members (spouse, parent, child, sibling and their respective spouses, regardless of where they reside) and/or those living in the same household as any of the aforementioned (whether related or not), are not eligible to enter or win a prize.

Table 1
 

2. HOW TO PARTICIPATE: Two (2) ways to participate:
 

A. Entrants that complete the Survey within five (5) days of receipt thereof will be automatically entered into the Promotion and be eligible for the drawing in accordance with Section 3 hereunder. One entry allowed per Entrant.  

B. Mail-in Entry: You may also enter by hand printing your first and last name, complete address, and email address on a 3” X 5” index card and, during the Promotion Period, mailing it to Sponsor at: P.O. Box 23530, Alexandria, VA 22304. Mail-in entries must be (1) postmarked by February 28, 2021 and received by March 5, 2021 for Period 1; (2) postmarked by March 31, 2021 and received by April 5, 2021 for Period 2; and (3) postmarked by April 30, 2021 and received by May 5, 2021 for Period 3, to be considered. Only one (1) mail-in entry per Entrant will be accepted. 

In the event of a dispute as to the identity of an entrant, the authorized account holder of the email address used to enter will be deemed to be the entrant. Entries specifying an invalid, non-working, or inactive email address will be disqualified and ineligible to win.

By entering into the Promotion, the entrant agrees that the Sponsor may use the entrant’s name and photograph and/or video images of an interview with the Sponsor for promotional and marketing purposes, without compensation to the entrant, in the event the entrant is selected as the winner.

3. DRAWING/NOTIFICATION AND VERIFICATION OF WINNERS: Sponsor will randomly select a total of three, from a series of three (3) random drawings from among all eligible entrants. The drawings will take place no later than March 8, 2021, April 8, 2021, and May 7, 2021 for Periods 1, 2, and 3, respectively. The odds of winning any one prize depends on the total number of qualified entrants. Any winner of a drawing will be ineligible to win any future drawing in connection with this Promotion. One entry will be sufficient to be considered for each drawing, provided that the entry is received by the Sponsor in accordance with Section 2 above. The winners will be notified via email. Once notified, the winners are required to keep the results of the prize drawing confidential until such time as Sponsor publicly discloses the results of the prize drawing. Potential winners will be required to present proof of their U.S. driver’s license before delivery of the prize.

Except where legally prohibited, winners must, if requested, sign and return, within 48 hours of being notified, an Affidavit of Eligibility, Liability & Publicity Release in order to claim his/her prize.

Return of any prize notification as undeliverable or the inability to contact a potential winner via email may result in disqualification and selection of an alternate winner. If a potential winner is unavailable to accept the prize within 48 hours, or if the potential winner fails to comply with these Official Rules as determined by Sponsor in its sole discretion, the potential winner will be disqualified and an alternate potential winner may be selected in his/her place in a random drawing from all remaining eligible entries.

Verification of Potential Winners:  ALL POTENTIAL WINNERS ARE SUBJECT TO VERIFICATION BY SPONSOR, WHOSE DECISIONS ARE FINAL AND BINDING IN ALL MATTERS RELATED TO THE PROMOTION.  AN ENTRANT IS NOT A WINNER OF ANY PRIZE UNLESS AND UNTIL ENTRANT’S ELIGIBILITY HAS BEEN VERIFIED AND ENTRANT HAS BEEN NOTIFIED THAT VERIFICATION IS COMPLETE.  

4. PRIZE: Three (3) prizes are available in connection with this Promotion:

4.1     Three (3) winners in connection with this Promotion will each receive one (1) $500 prepaid American Express© digital card via email, following the winner’s fulfillment of all requirements set forth in these Official Rules. Approximate Retail Value (“ARV”) of prize: $500. 

Any and all applicable federal, state, and local taxes and all fees and expenses related to acceptance and use of prize not specifically stated herein are the sole responsibility of the winner. Prize is awarded without warranty of any kind from Sponsor, express or implied. Sponsor will not replace any lost or stolen prize.

5. GENERAL CONDITIONS: Sponsor’s failure to enforce any term of these Official Rules shall not constitute a waiver of that provision. Sponsor reserves the right at its sole discretion to disqualify any individual it finds to be attempting to tamper with or undermine the participation process, the web site, and/or the legitimate operation of the Promotion; to violate the Official Rules; or to act in an unsportsmanlike or disruptive manner or with the intent to annoy, abuse, threaten, or harass any other person. Sponsor and its agents are not responsible for (1) any incorrect or inaccurate information, whether caused by entrants, printing errors or by any of the equipment or programming associated with or utilized in the Promotion; (2) technical failures of any kind, including, but not limited to malfunctions, interruptions, or disconnections in phone lines or network hardware or software; (3) unauthorized human intervention in any part of the participation process or the Promotion; (4) technical or human error which may occur in the administration of the Promotion or the processing of entries; or (5) any injury or damage to persons or property which may be caused, directly or indirectly, in whole or in part, from entrant’s participation in the Promotion or receipt or use or misuse of any prize. If, for any reason, the Promotion is not capable of running as planned, including infection by computer virus or bugs, tampering, unauthorized intervention, fraud, technical failures, or any other causes beyond the control of Sponsor, which corrupt or affect the operation, administration, security, fairness, integrity, or proper conduct of this Promotion, Sponsor may, in its sole discretion, void any suspect entries and (a) modify or suspend the Promotion to address the impairment and then resume the Promotion in a manner that best conforms to the spirit of these Official Rules; or (b) award the prize at random from among the eligible, non-suspect entries received up to the time of the impairment.

6. RELEASE AND LIMITATIONS OF LIABILITY: BY PARTICIPATING IN THIS PROMOTION, ENTRANTS AGREE THAT SPONSOR AND ITS PARENTS, AFFILIATES, SUBSIDIARIES, REPRESENTATIVES, CONSULTANTS, CONTRACTORS, LEGAL COUNSEL, ADVERTISING, PUBLIC RELATIONS, PROMOTIONAL, FULFILLMENT AND MARKETING, WEB SITE PROVIDERS, WEB MASTERS, AND THEIR RESPECTIVE OFFICERS, DIRECTORS, EMPLOYEES, REPRESENTATIVES, AND AGENTS (THE “RELEASED PARTIES”) WILL HAVE NO LIABILITY WHATSOEVER FOR, AND SHALL BE HELD HARMLESS BY ENTRANTS AGAINST, ANY LIABILITY FOR ANY INJURIES, LOSSES OR DAMAGES OF ANY KIND TO PERSONS, INCLUDING PERSONAL INJURY OR DEATH, OR PROPERTY RESULTING IN WHOLE OR IN PART, DIRECTLY OR INDIRECTLY, FROM ACCEPTANCE, POSSESSION, LOSS, MISUSE, OR USE OF THE PRIZE, ENTRY, OR PARTICIPATION IN THIS PROMOTION OR IN ANY PROMOTION RELATED ACTIVITY, OR ANY CLAIMS BASED ON PUBLICITY RIGHTS, DEFAMATION OR INVASION OF PRIVACY, OR MERCHANDISE DELIVERY. THE RELEASED PARTIES ARE NOT RESPONSIBLE IF ANY PRIZE CANNOT BE AWARDED DUE TO ACTS OF GOD, ACTS OF WAR, NATURAL DISASTERS, WEATHER, OR TERRORISM. BY PARTICIPATING IN THIS PROMOTION, ENTRANTS AGREE THAT THE RELEASED PARTIES WILL NOT BE RESPONSIBLE OR LIABLE FOR ANY INJURIES, DAMAGES, OR LOSSES OF ANY KIND, INCLUDING DIRECT, INDIRECT, INCIDENTAL, CONSEQUENTIAL, OR PUNITIVE DAMAGES TO PERSONS, INCLUDING DEATH, OR TO PROPERTY ARISING OUT OF ACCESS TO AND USE OF ANY OF SPONSOR’S WEB SITES OR THE DOWNLOADING FROM AND/OR PRINTING MATERIAL DOWNLOADED FROM ANY SUCH WEB SITE.

EXCEPT WHERE PROHIBITED BY LAW, PARTICIPATION IN THE PROMOTION CONSTITUTES WINNER’S GRANT TO SPONSOR (WHICH GRANT WILL BE CONFIRMED IN WRITING ON REQUEST OF SPONSOR), ITS AFFILIATES, SUBSIDIARIES, DISTRIBUTORS, ADVERTISING AND PROMOTION AGENCIES, SUPPLIERS, AND THOSE ACTING PURSUANT TO ITS AUTHORITY, THE RIGHT AND PERMISSION TO PRINT, PUBLISH, BROADCAST, AND USE, WORLDWIDE IN ANY MEDIA NOW KNOWN OR HEREAFTER DEVELOPED, INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO THE WORLD WIDE WEB, AT ANY TIME OR TIMES, EACH WINNER’S NAME, PORTRAIT, PICTURE, VOICE, LIKENESS, OPINIONS AND BIOGRAPHICAL INFORMATION (INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO HOMETOWN AND STATE) FOR ADVERTISING, TRADE, AND PROMOTIONAL PURPOSES (INCLUDING THE ANNOUNCEMENT OF HIS OR HER NAME ON TELEVISION OR RADIO BROADCAST) WITHOUT ADDITIONAL CONSIDERATION, COMPENSATION, PERMISSION, OR NOTIFICATION. ENTRANTS AGREE THAT SPONSOR SHALL OWN THE ENTRIES, WHICH WILL NOT BE ACKNOWLEDGED OR RETURNED, AND THAT SPONSOR AND ITS DESIGNEES SHALL HAVE THE PERPETUAL, WORLDWIDE RIGHT TO EDIT, PUBLISH, AND USE THE ENTRIES IN ANY WAY AND IN ANY MEDIA FOR TRADE, ADVERTISING, PROMOTIONAL, AND/OR OTHER PURPOSES AS SPONSOR AND/OR ITS DESIGNEES MAY DETERMINE WITHOUT FURTHER CONSIDERATION TO ENTRANTS OR ANY THIRD PARTY.

WITHOUT LIMITING THE FOREGOING, EVERYTHING REGARDING THIS PROMOTION, INCLUDING THE WEB SITE AND ALL PRIZES, ARE PROVIDED “AS IS” WITHOUT WARRANTY OF ANY KIND, EITHER EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO, THE IMPLIED WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTABILITY, FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE, OR NON-INFRINGEMENT. SOME JURISDICTIONS MAY NOT ALLOW THE LIMITATIONS OR EXCLUSIONS OF LIABILITY FOR INCIDENTAL OR CONSEQUENTIAL DAMAGES OR EXCLUSION OF IMPLIED WARRANTIES, SO SOME OF THE ABOVE LIMITATIONS OR EXCLUSIONS MAY NOT APPLY. CHECK LOCAL LAWS FOR ANY RESTRICTIONS OR LIMITATIONS REGARDING THESE LIMITATIONS OR EXCLUSIONS.

7. DISPUTES. Except where prohibited, entrant agrees that: (1) any and all disputes, claims and causes of action arising out of or connected with this Promotion or any prize awarded shall be resolved individually, without resort to any form of class action, and exclusively by the appropriate federal or state court in Virginia; (2) any and all claims, judgments and awards shall be limited to actual out-of-pocket costs incurred, including costs associated with entering this Promotion, but in no event attorneys’ fees; and (3) under no circumstances will entrant be permitted to obtain awards for, and entrant hereby waives all rights to claim, indirect, punitive, incidental and consequential damages and any other damages, other than for actual out-of-pocket expenses, and any and all rights to have damages multiplied or otherwise increased. All issues and questions concerning the construction, validity, interpretation and enforceability of these Official Rules, or the rights and obligations of the entrant and Sponsor in connection with the Promotion, shall be governed by, and construed in accordance with, the laws of Virginia, without giving effect to any choice of law or conflict of law rules (whether of Virginia or any other jurisdiction), which would cause the application of the laws of any jurisdiction other than Virginia.

8. ENTRANT’S PERSONAL INFORMATION: Information collected from entrants is subject to Sponsor’s Privacy Policy located at https://expresslanes.com/privacy-policy.

9. WINNERS’ NAME. For the name of the winners, send your request in writing with a stamped, self-addressed envelope to: P.O. Box 23530, Alexandria, VA 22304.

10. SPONSOR: Transurban (USA) Operations Inc., P.O. Box 23530, Alexandria, VA 22304.

Transurban (USA) Operations Inc. shall not be liable for technical, pictorial, typographical or editorial errors or omissions contained herein. Copyright ©2021 Transurban (USA) Operations Inc. All rights reserved. E-ZPass® is a registered trademark of The Port Authority of New York and New Jersey in the United States and/or other countries. American Express® is a registered trademark of American Express Company. American Express Company, is not a sponsor of and is not affiliated with this Promotion. All other trademarks or logos used herein are trademarks of their respective owners in the United States and/or other countries. We do not intend our use or display of third-party logos, tradenames, trademarks, or service marks to imply a relationship with, or endorsement or sponsorship of us or this Promotion by, those third parties.
 

Express Lanes terms and conditions

These are the current Express Lanes Terms of Use and Conditions (“Terms and Conditions”) and they replace any other terms of use or terms and conditions for the Express Lanes previously published. These Terms and Conditions may be varied or amended by the publishing of amended Terms and Conditions.

By viewing the website found at https://www.expresslanes.com or any pages thereof (the “Website”) and the associated mobile application (the “Mobile App”), you accept that you’ve been provided with sufficient notice of any such amendment. By continuing to access or use the Website or Mobile App after any amendment, you confirm your acceptance of these Terms and Conditions, as amended. Please take some time to read the terms below and enjoy driving the Express Lanes.

These Terms and Conditions should be read in conjunction with the E-ZPass® Customer Service Agreement for your respective E-ZPass® agency. You can find The Virginia E-ZPass® Customer Service Agreement here. And as for the Maryland E-ZPass® Account Terms and Conditions, you can read them here.

Permitted vehicles

1. All 2 axle passenger vehicles and motorcycles are permitted. Trucks and vanpools with 2 axles are also permitted. Buses aren’t subject to this restriction.
2. Non-permitted vehicles on the Express Lanes include any vehicles with greater than 2 axles and vehicles towing trailers or boats.

Riding with E-ZPass®

3. All Express Lanes customers must travel with an E-ZPass® at all times. The Express Lanes don’t have toll booths, meaning that there isn’t an option to pay cash on the Express Lanes.
4. Motorcycles don’t need an E-ZPass®. If traveling with an E-ZPass® of any type, our system will identify the vehicle as a motorcycle and the account won’t be charged.
5. Any failure to use an E-ZPass® or E-ZPass® Flex in accordance with these Terms of Use may result in additional charges, fees and/or termination of the VDOT E-ZPass® Customer Agreement.
6. Customers traveling with a standard E-ZPass® will be charged a toll on the Express Lanes, regardless of occupancy.
7. Customers traveling with an E-ZPass® Flex will have the ability to travel in:
   • HOV mode (100% discount) when traveling with 3 people in the vehicle; or
   • Toll mode when traveling with less than 3 people in the vehicle.
8. Customers must set their E-ZPass® Flex to either HOV mode or Toll mode prior to entering the Express Lanes.
9. Incorrect use of E-ZPass® Flex in HOV mode (including the switching of an E-ZPass® Flex transponder between modes during a trip) may result in a removal of the 100% discount, enforcement by the Virginia State Police or otherwise, and/or other fees and charges.
10. Customers shouldn’t travel with multiple E-ZPass® transponders within their vehicles at the same time. If travel of this nature is necessary, customers should ensure that the second transponder remains shielded as instructed by the issuing E-ZPass® agency to avoid multiple transponder charges.
11. These rules apply equally to taxis, leased and rental vehicles.
12. E-ZPass® Flex will beep when switched from Toll to HOV mode.

Violation and disputes

13. Customers traveling without an E-ZPass® will be sent an unpaid toll invoice explaining the correct way to use the Express Lanes and requesting payment of tolls plus administrative fees. Failure to pay this invoice may result in escalated administrative fees, civil penalties and referral to debt collection or court, and a hold on your account at the Department of Motor Vehicles that must be satisfied prior to re-registering your vehicle.
14. In the case where a customer overpays the amount of an unpaid toll invoice, the customer may request a refund for the overpayment by:
    • Contacting the customer service center at 1-855-495-9777 to speak with a representative
    • Sending a request on the "Contact Us" page of www.expresslanes.com. Customers have up to a maximum of 90 days after the Express Lanes receives its payment to request a refund. Any overpayment to the Express Lanes in excess of $100 will be automatically refunded to the User.
15. Customers may dispute a toll violation or redirect the toll violation to another driver if they weren’t the driver of the vehicle via https://www.expresslanes.com/pay.

Tolling and signage

16. Customers will be presented with 2 pricing Dynamic Message Signs (DMS) prior to entering the Express Lanes. Customers might be presented with additional pricing signs during a trip on the 95 Express Lanes at which time customers can make the determination to stay on the road subject to an additional toll rate or exit the Express Lanes.
17. The first DMS that customers encounter when approaching the Express Lanes will act as an estimate of the toll price only.
18. Customers will be charged the toll price as displayed at the final DMS when approaching the Express Lanes. This price is locked in for the 495 Express Lanes or for the applicable segment of the 95 Express Lanes and won’t change.
19. Customers will have an opportunity to take the regular/general purpose Beltway or I-95 lanes instead of the Express Lanes prior to passing the final DMS displaying the tolls and entering the Express Lanes, and/or prior to entering into an additional tolling segment on the I-95 Express Lanes.
20. If a customer is traveling to a destination not listed on the DMS, they will be charged an amount corresponding to their final destination between the listed destinations.
21. In the case where no price is displayed at one of the DMS approaching the Express Lanes due to a malfunction, customers will be charged in accordance with the price displayed on the functioning DMS.
22. Where no price is displayed at either of the 2 DMS approaching the Express Lanes, customers will be charged in accordance with the price that can be obtained from the Express Lanes website.

HOV travel

23. Customers (excluding non-permitted vehicles) traveling on the Express Lanes with 3 or more occupants will be eligible for the 100% toll discount if traveling with an E-ZPass® Flex in HOV mode. Also see HOV Nomination below for VDOT E-ZPass® bumper mounted transponder customers.
24. Vehicles that will be considered to have met the HOV requirements regardless of the number of occupants and therefore eligible for the 100% discount are:
    • Mass transit vehicles and commuter buses (defined as vehicles with seating for 16, including the driver, providing a scheduled transportation services to the general public. Such vehicles shall comprise nonprofit, publicly or privately owned or operated transportation services, programs, or systems that may be funded pursuant to § 58.1-638);
    • School buses;
    • Motorcycles; and
    • Exempt vehicles that are emergency and law-enforcement vehicles in the performance of their duties excluding commuting to and from the workplace.
25. Hybrid fuel vehicles (or other full electric vehicles) won’t be treated as meeting the HOV vehicles requirement for the Express Lanes unless traveling with 3 or more occupants and an E-ZPass® Flex in HOV mode.

Travel on the Express Lanes

26. Customers must only enter and exit the Express Lanes via designated ramps and access points. Customers must not enter or exit the 495 Express Lanes between the channelizing posts. Customers must not enter or exit the 95 Express Lanes if an access point is closed or in the process of closing. Customers must not enter or exit the 95 Express Lanes via points that are limited to authorized vehicles. Failure to comply may result in enforcement by the Virginia State Police.
27. Customers are required to observe normal road rules and signage, including dynamic speed limit signs and lane use management signals, on the Express Lanes. Failure to comply may result in enforcement by the Virginia State Police.
28. Customers should follow the instructions displayed on the dynamic message signs during incidents. Tolls will generally only be suspended on the Express Lanes upon instructions from VDOT. Customers will be notified of a toll suspension via the dynamic message signs.

Missed a toll

29. Customers traveling without an E-ZPass® may have the opportunity to make payment of the unpaid toll plus a small administrative fee prior to the Express Lanes issuing a formal unpaid toll notice.
30. Customers may search for an unpaid toll via the Website (https://www.expresslanes.com/pay) or the Mobile Application.
31. A missed toll may not be located by the system if:
    • The trip hasn’t been processed by the system yet (a trip may take up to 48 hours after the time of travel to be available); or
    • An unpaid toll notice has already been sent (this usually occurs 4 days after travel).
32. If an unpaid toll invoice has already been sent, the customer will need to pay this invoice in full.
33. If the trip isn’t available for payment yet, the customer may elect to leave payment details and an email address. The customer will be contacted when the trip is charged per the payment details. Fees and penalties
34. The following fees and penalties may be applied for toll violations:
    • Missed a toll fee: $1.50 per trip
    • Missed a toll B fee: $2.50 per trip
    • First unpaid toll invoice fee: $12.50 per trip
    • Final unpaid toll invoice fee: $25.00 per trip
    • Bounced check fee: $30.00 per check
    • Debt collection fee: $100.00 per trip
    • Civil penalties ranging from $50.00 for a first offense to $500.00 for fourth and subsequent offenses (see VA Code § 33.2-503 for further details)
    • Other administration fees and penalties may be applied by Fairfax Courts or Prince William County courts.
35. The following fees and penalties may be applied for HOV violations:
    • Civil penalties ranging from $50.00 for a first offense to $500.00 for fourth and subsequent offenses (see VA Code § 33.2-503 for further details)
    • Other administration fees and penalties may be applied by Fairfax Courts or Prince William County courts.
36. Customers may also be subject to penalties associated with unauthorized vehicle travel (D) or crossing through any barrier, buffer or other area separating the 495 Express Lanes and 95 Express Lanes from other lanes of travel (E) in accordance with § 33.1-56.3.

Customer privacy protection

37. Customer privacy is a top priority. On-road video collected by the Express Lanes is used exclusively for safety and toll-related purposes, including the review of tolling charges and traffic incidents. All on-road video is purged as required by law. Individual driver speed data isn’t reported nor used in any format. Corridor-wide average travel speeds are only reported to the Virginia Department of Transportation per our contractual obligation. Customer information collected for the purpose of pursing unpaid tolls won’t be used for any other purpose but collection of the unpaid tolls.