I do a fair amount of driving along the New York State Thruway and I'm here to tell you what most already know: E-ZPass is a great invention.

Being able to breeze through toll plazas with relative ease -- without having to reach into your pockets seeking loose change, or opening your window to the elements -- has become one of life's simple pleasures. It almost makes you forget how much money you spend on tolls.

But am I the only one who gets frustrated when you have to come to a complete stop, even in an E-ZPass lane?

Yes, I'm talking about the Saugerties interchange, northbound. Typically, there's one lane open and it's for both E-ZPass and cash customers. Maybe that's why they make you stop. Maybe it's for the attendant's safety. I'm not saying they don't have a good reason. But in this case, the E-ZPass experience is not quite as easy. And it's the only Thruway interchange I've encountered the problem.

The least they could do would be to play Simon and Garfunkel's "Feeling Groovy" in the background. You know, "Slow down, you're movin' too fast ..."