Christie puts brakes on GW carpooling crackdown

NEW JERSEY (WABC) -- New Jersey Governor Chris Christie is putting the brakes on the Port Authority's crackdown on drivers who carpool across the George Washington Bridge.

Christie is intervening on behalf of commuters, an aides says, because he thinks Port Authority police are being heavy-handed.

Drive across the GW into Manhattan, and you pay a $12 cash toll, or $9.50 with EZ-Pass. But there is a cheaper way. Grab a couple of people waiting at the bus stop near the base of the bridge, then pay the carpool rate.

That will cost you just $6, or $3.50 with EZ-Pass.

Recently, many people who do this have gotten tickets from Port Authority police. They say drivers dangerously cross lanes, trying to make it over to the bus stop. They also get in the way of the buses that stop there.

But now, the governor has asked police to ease off. Port Authority police at the bridge reportedly have been told to stop issuing summonses to drivers who do nothing but pick up people.

Fort Lee's mayor thinks that maybe there could be a specific area for these type of pickups. He is discussing options with Port Authority officials.

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