ROCHESTER, N.Y. -- If you're a state lawmaker from the Rochester area, you use the New York State Thruway as much as anyone.

"Too often," State Sen. Joe Robach said. "I'm on the Thruway a lot."

"Since I have to be at the capital 30 times a year, I use the Thruway a lot," Assembly majority leader Joe Morelle said.

Some people still pay their tolls the old-fashioned way, by cash, and others use an E-Z Pass.

"I know not everyone's comfortable with it, but it's really shortened down wait times at the exits," Morelle said.

Utica area Republican Sen. Joe Griffo recently sent a letter to the Thruway Authority, urging the creation of eight to 10 new exits, which would be fully-automated. Users would pay either with an E-Z Pass, or cameras would capture license plate numbers, and then bill customers for tolls.

"I think in time, that's where we're going," Morelle said.

However, Morelle says an automated toll system does raise questions.

"What about the number of people who refuse to pay?" Morelle said. "And then where does the burden fall for non-payment and the collection system and that in my mind is still a big issue. We want to make sure it's fair. If you're using the toll highway, you need to pay the toll."

"E-Z Pass has been a success, but I can tell you in my office, I get tons of complaints from people who think they've been billed for a trip they haven't taken," Robach said.

Robach says the key is a system that balances technology with driver convenience. He says some constituents prefer toll booths.

"I am not for having a totally automated place," Robach said. "People want to talk to people, someone has to be in charge. Machines make mistakes." 

Thruway Authority records show more than 75 percent of tolls collected statewide are from people using an E-Z Pass. A fully-automated toll system would come with a big price tag and it would impact jobs. Gov. Cuomo has already announced that cashless tolls are coming to New York City area bridges and tunnels in 2017, to ease big traffic jams.

"You move pretty quickly through it," Morelle said. "If you pay by card or cash that may be a different experience."

Like it or not, Robach says changes in the way Thruway tolls are paid are probably inevitable.

"My guess is if better technology comes out that's not inconvenient to drivers, you'll probably see more of it applied," Robach said.