Causeway commuters, today is the day the old toll tags and decals won't work anymore.
Causeway Bridge General Manager Carlton Dufrechou says most tag owners have upgraded, but there are a few thousand or so of the old ones still out there.
"If any of our commuters still have'em, please stop in any of the tag offices on the Northshore or the south shore or send us a note and we'll try to mail you a new tag right away," said Dufrechou.
The old hard plastic tags and larger decal tags have become obsolete. Dufrechou says the oldest of the tags have been around for about 30 years.
"They are just fizzling out and it's not only the original tags -- the original plastic hard tags are now 30 years old and there are some, the original first iteration of decal tags, which are about two inches by three inches square, they are phasing out, too," he explained.
And if a driver has not upgraded their tag yet, and they come up to the bridge?
"Unfortunately, the old tag, once it's inop, the only alternative is for the commuter to pay cash right there at the toll booth or to take a right and go to the tag store and get one of the new decal tags," said Dufrechou.
Attempting to continue on to the south shore is not recommended.
"Before you know it," Dufrechou warned, "there'll be a police officer kind of catching up."
The causeway toll is $5 cash, or $3 with a toll tag account to head from Mandeville to Metairie. Tolls are not charged to head northbound.
