Sure, it's called an E-ZPass when it comes to paying to travel on some roads controlled by the Pennsylvania Turnpike Commission. But for Mercer Countians, the decision to have one might not be that easy.

The turnpike commission announced this week that if tolls are approved for Interstate 80 by the federal government, Mercer County drivers would benefit by having an E-ZPass which allows drivers to set up an account. Each time you pass through one of the toll booths on participating toll roads, the fee would automatically be deducted from the account.

However, here is the supposed big bonus for this area. The commission is proposing that with an E-ZPass transponder on your vehicle, it won’t cost a driver unless you pass through at least two toll booths on one trip. That should be good news to county drivers since there will only be one booth in Mercer County on I-80, making it free to travel throughout the county as it was in the past.

However, there is still the unsavory requirement to send money to the commission to establish the account. If you don’t travel much on other interstates, it will just sit there unused. Some people will definitely balk at doing that.

There needs to be at least $35 maintained in the account and it requires a $25 deposit. Anytime your E-ZPass account drops below $35, an amount is automatically charged to an account as allowed by the user. Another upsetting factor could be that monthly statements are sent at a cost of $4. That seems pretty steep.

However, for people who travel on I-80 several times a year through Mercer County, it will probably be the only way to go. That because the estimated fee for just passing through a tollbooth will be $2.50. And that’s just the initial cost.

When you pass through the gates, the automated system will take a photo of your license plate. Then the person’s name and address will be found and the licensee will be charged accordingly.

But there are also hidden costs, such as a few for having to look up the address. Then consider that you probably will have to mail in your check so tack on the cost of a stamp.

Obviously, there are very few — if any — people in Mercer County who would be happy if the federal government gives approval to the turnpike commission to toll I-80. And despite the state’s claims that it will allow better maintenance of the highway, most people realize that this is all talk since the real reason behind it is to channel more money into Pittsburgh and Philadelphia for their mass transit systems.

State officials can call it an E-ZPass if they want. But it’s not going to be E-Z to convince people of Mercer County that using one should make them any happier about the tolling of I-80.