The coronavirus has put an end to collecting money. Your toll bills are now in the mail.

Drivers who are used to handing cash to a toll collector or throwing coins into exact change baskets will receive something new in the mail for the first time this week – a bill for tolls from the New Jersey Turnpike and Garden State Parkway.

The first mail-in toll bills, in effect since late March, are being sent to vehicle owners this week, New Jersey Turnpike Authority officials said. Cash tolls were suspended on March 24 to reduce exposure to the coronavirus.

“This is a temporary arrangement in response to the COVID-19 crisis, not a permanent switch to all electronic tolls,” said Tom Feeney, spokesperson for the toll authority.

One of the projects proposed in the Turnpike Authority’s $ 24 billion capital plan is the move to all electronic toll collection. Now, drivers who usually pay in cash can see this as an exercise for the future.

You are likely to receive more than one invoice. The first group of invoices will include toll charges incurred since March 24 at 10 p.m. After that, invoices will be sent as often as once a week, depending on how often you drive the promenade and the toll highway.

The envelopes can contain multiple invoices, but if you are using both the freeway and the toll highway, you may receive separate envelopes for each freeway.

To avoid the dreaded and expensive administration fee of $ 50, pay the bill on the due date. A second notice will include administrative costs, the same as a notice of violation. They notice first that only tolls are charged, the same rate you would pay in cash.

“The due date is on the invoice. If it’s paid by that date, there’s no administrative charge, ”Feeney said. “If paid after this date, administrative charges apply. The due date is 30 calendar days after the invoice date.

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The toll bill can be paid online, by mail or by phone. You can pay with a debit or credit card, check, or money order, but don’t send money by mail.

Online payments can be made through the New Jersey E-ZPass website, which has a tab for toll-by-mail payments on the right side of the home page. To pay by phone, dial 973-368-1425. Checks or money orders can be sent with payment coupon (s) to NJ E-ZPass, PO Box 4971, Trenton, NJ 08650.

Do you want to dispute the toll? Use the form on the back of the invoice, Feeney said.

The Port Authority of New York and New Jersey also ended the collection of cash tolls on its bridge and tunnels over the Hudson River on March 22, which will continue as long as orders from the Governors of New York and the New Jersey will remain in effect.

The port authority already uses cashless toll by mail on its three New Jersey-Staten Island bridges. As with the Turnpike, invoices must be paid before the due date to avoid additional charges.

The Port Authority is a little more forgiving of procrastinators. If a second notice needs to be sent, a late fee of $ 5 will be charged. If a third invoice needs to be sent, this will be considered a violation which will result in an administrative charge of $ 50 for each unpaid toll.

Accumulate enough and your ability to register a vehicle may be suspended.

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Larry higgs can be reached at lhiggs@njadvancemedia.com.