In early September, the Tri-State Campaign received a flurry of e-mail from exasperated motorists. "If you have anything to do with E-ZPass, can you tell me why it is taking forever to get a tag sent to me?" began one.

The messages told tales of being placed on permanent hold and long waits at E-ZPass walk-in centers.

News stories that followed cited MTA staffers who attributed the mounting bureaucratic jam to the recent merger of MTA, Port Authority, Thruway and NY Bridge Authority E-ZPass customer service operations. The MTA said new automated account-checking systems had caused phone line overload, and that over 40 workers were being added to the operation.

While the agencies say the problems are just growing pains, the Daily News reported again Wednesday that it was "flooded with complaints" from motorists responding to its coverage of E-Z administrative nightmares.

Electronic toll collection can yield big transportation benefits, but only if it is as easy as possible for the motoring public to join and use. The toll agencies should put the system under emergency management and add staff and computer resources until the jams are gone.