License Plate Scanners.

[ultrarunner]

Bridges, Red light cameras and commuter lanes now exclusively use license plate scanners to bill or deduct payment from those with transponders...

Twice in the last 5 years I have received Toll Evasion invoices with penalties and short time line to tender payment.

Thankfully a photo is part of the invoice and both times I have been able to clear as the vehicle bears no resemblance to mine...

There is a cottage industry altering license plates to evade tolls... mostly by scraping off the reflective surface causing havoc.

My Toyota Sedan bears no resemblance to a full size van...

As automation and AI advance it's just one thing guilty until proven innocent.

 

[CliffordK]

You'd think they'd tie it into the DMV database. While the DMV may not track things like car color, that is probably encoded into the vehicle VIN. And a good AI program should be able to at least classify the type of vehicle (Sedan, pickup, van, truck, etc).

 

[MAX-24-Dean]

The ones we installed in California they were just interested in the revenue, they don't really care if they get it right.
I like the statement though, of "guilty until proven innocent."

 

[Oaktree]

You'd think they'd tie it into the DMV database. While the DMV may not track things like car color, that is probably encoded into the vehicle VIN.

Not sure if you can get vehicle color from the VIN, but at least in my state the registration notes the color, so the DMV does have that info.

It's rare that we go anywhere there's a toll road, bridge, etc. but I did notice a couple years ago when we did a road trip that the N.Y. Thruway has removed toll booths and replaced them with cameras.

 

[Streetcar]

Not sure if you can get vehicle color from the VIN, but at least in my state the registration notes the color, so the DMV does have that info.

It's rare that we go anywhere there's a toll road, bridge, etc. but I did notice a couple years ago when we did a road trip that the N.Y. Thruway has removed toll booths and replaced them with cameras.

VIN can pull up all information about the original features of your car

 

[sandman2234]

I got a letter in the mail for toll not paid, since I don't have an account for them to soak funds from. The picture was of a small Toyota compact, which in no way resembles the F350 dually that the tag is affixed to. Plus, in the picture, it was evident that the tag number they were billing wasn't the tag number shown. I contested it and won.
If I had a Sunpass account, they would have just deducted the toll. I wonder how many frequent tollway users just pay the bill rather than checking to be sure they aren't being charged for usage they didn't use!
David from jax

 

[ultrarunner]

^^^ Exactly

 

[plowhog]

In Sacramento, CA, a woman received a $400+ ticket in the mail. Running a red light. Ticket issued by red light camera. Mailed the ticket to her based on the plate number.

She called the Sheriff's office and vehemently complained she never drove the vehicle the day of the ticket. The Deputy stifled a yawn and said: "sure lady, we hear that all the time. Come on down and we will show you the photo evidence."

Not long after, she stormed up to the window at the Sheriff's department and repeated the story. The Deputy said: "wait here." He retrieved the photos and brought them for the lady to look at. Put them on the counter in front of her. Here is what she said:

Lady: "Well that is my car."
Lady: "Yes that is my license number."
Lady: "That is my husband driving, and WHO IS THAT WOMAN THAT IS WITH HIM !!!!!!!!!!!!!"

 

[ultrarunner]

Received my dismissal of violation letter yesterday from toll authority.

Agency agreed it was not my vehicle and license misread.

The more we go to auto generated government notices the more time I spend correcting errors and 9 out of 10 are sent in error but woe be to the person that ignores!

The 1 in 10 may be correct like notice of dumping… not something I dumped but dumped on property I’m responsible so my problem.

 

[redman135]

Maybe when enough people file a charge of fraud or "use of a document to gain a pecunary advantage" this will stop. Make sure you bill for time as well. They are getting paid, why should they not pay for THEIR mistake.

 

[Willman]

I got a letter in the mail for toll not paid, since I don't have an account for them to soak funds from. The picture was of a small Toyota compact, which in no way resembles the F350 dually that the tag is affixed to. Plus, in the picture, it was evident that the tag number they were billing wasn't the tag number shown. I contested it and won.
If I had a Sunpass account, they would have just deducted the toll. I wonder how many frequent tollway users just pay the bill rather than checking to be sure they aren't being charged for usage they didn't use!
David from jax

I received a new transponder in the mail from the turnpike commission, returned the old one in the foil bag supplied, few days later charged a toll from mid county to Philadelphia on the old transponder when it was in a USPS truck, had no problem getting it taken off

 

[Oaktree]

I received a new transponder in the mail from the turnpike commission, returned the old one in the foil bag supplied, few days later charged a toll from mid county to Philadelphia on the old transponder when it was in a USPS truck, had no problem getting it taken off

Had the opposite happen to me maybe 20 years ago. One of the company vehicles where I worked had some sort of shielded glass in the windshield, and the readers wouldn't pick up the transponder if it was velcro'ed below the mirror. Had to pull it off and hold it next to the side window. Don't remember what kind of vehicle it was.

 

[jyoutz]

Last year I was traveling through Texas with my truck. In a few of the Metro areas, I traveled on toll roads, but there was never a place to pay tolls. I shrugged it off and forgot about it. Last month I received a bill from Texas motor vehicle for the tolls. Apparently the transponder correctly read my license plate, but waiting nearly a year later to bill me seems like there’s a glitch somewhere in the system.

 

[Alan W.]

When dad stayed in FL for the winters he accidentally got on a toll road and received a bill in the mail with a pic of his vehicle and license plate. He was guilty and paid it

Six months later he got another one, the license number was correct but the vehicle was wrong and the tag wasnt from KY.

It was obvious that their Artificial Ignorance did not do its homework. They confessed that it was their mistake.

 

[ultrarunner]

All the toll takers are no more… some like Golden Gate bill based on license plate…

I know folks visiting that never received invoice… one from Canada and several from Arizona.

I like pay as you go then no surprises and I have a receipt to turn in to the company…

 

[garry1p]

I know a guy in AZ who has several reader violations and claims he has never paid for any of them.
Says he insist he never received the violation notice and until they send the notice by registered mail he claims they can't prove he received the notice and he has a lawyer backing him up.
Not sure I would try this but he is willing to got to court and swear he never received a notice.

 

[MoKelly]

Missouri Supreme Court ruled red light cameras were illegal unless the state could prove the drivers identity at time of offense.

State didn’t have the proof.

Seems like these toll road violations based only on license plates are similar.

 

[jyoutz]

I know a guy in AZ who has several reader violations and claims he has never paid for any of them.
Says he insist he never received the violation notice and until they send the notice by registered mail he claims they can't prove he received the notice and he has a lawyer backing him up.
Not sure I would try this but he is willing to got to court and swear he never received a notice.

It’s pretty hard to enforce an out of state traffic ticket, unless they pull you over in that state for another violation and see the unpaid ticket. I’m not aware of any toll roads in Arizona, so he must have received those in another state. That said, I sent Texas the $13 bill I received in the mail because I used their toll roads and that’s only fair.

 

[ultrarunner]

It’s pretty hard to enforce an out of state traffic ticket, unless they pull you over in that state for another violation and see the unpaid ticket. I’m not aware of any toll roads in Arizona, so he must have received those in another state. That said, I sent Texas the $13 bill I received in the mail because I used their toll roads and that’s only fair.

The AZ plated car crossed the Golden Gate Bridge.

No citation as the license plate reader simply sends out toll owed as no more toll takers.

I guess someone figured not paying toll takers puts the district ahead even if some get by?

 

[Topzide]

The problem is that the plate readers go by the first registered owner of the vehicle. They have no proof that person was driving, and you have the right to not self incriminate or your spouse/family member. They would then have to prove you were behind the wheel.