By JARRAD HEDES

jmhedes@tnonline.comAs many motorists on the Pennsylvania Turnpike are finding out, convenience comes at a cost.Yes, the recently opened Route 903 E-ZPass interchange significantly cuts down on the time you spend in your vehicle, depending on your destination.E-ZPass customers, particularly those in Penn Forest Township, who work in Wilkes-Barre or Allentown will have a quicker commute.Race fans from out of the area heading to Pocono Raceway, you most likely will have an easier trip as well.For drivers without transponders, however, it's not so easy on the wallet.Over 37,000 vehicles used the interchange within a few weeks of its opening, and just over 4,500 drivers were hit with the $60 fine that comes with illegally passing through it.That number can be explained by one of two things the majority of people can't read, or more likely, it's just going to take some time to get used to this newfangled exit.While this is the issue getting all the headlines, it's far from the only one.The new exit will bring with it added traffic through the area, especially in Penn Forest Township and into Jim Thorpe borough, where officials are already discussing how it will impact the tourist destination."I was driving across the bridge today and saw three tractor-trailers back to back," Councilman John McGuire said at a July 9 meeting. "Where do you think they're coming from? They're bypassing the weigh stations and coming through town. I've never seen three in a row before."For months, maybe even years, Mayor Michael Sofranko has been pushing for a seventh full-time police officer.To back up his request, Sofranko outlined statistics from nearby departments.Lehighton borough has 5,400 residents with 10 full-time officers, Palmerton borough has 5,200 residents with eight full-time officers, and Kidder Township has 1,185 residents with six full-time officers.In contrast, Jim Thorpe has around 4,800 residents with six full-time officers.Could the new turnpike exit finally be the thing that gets him over the top with his request?"I can tell you one thing," Sofranko said two weeks ago, "that exit is going to bring more traffic through here, and I don't mean vehicles."Jim Thorpe already has a drug issue. The mayor and his police department are the first to admit it.In 2014, 63 people were charged with drug-related offenses in the borough.By his comment, Sofranko clearly expects that to go up as more "salespeople" head down Route 903.Time will tell.