Two toll-related questions.

[Janko Dialnice]

I understand the need to have highway tolls, since maintenance doesn't come free, and the federal funding won't last forever. I do have some questions about the methods to collect the money.

I have read that some toll road authorities have converted to, or at least considered, all-electronic toll payment systems. The ETR 407 in Toronto, and the Homestead Extension of the Florida Turnpike come to mind. How would the toll be collected for someone who rarely uses a given toll road, or someone from out of state? Would such a diver have to obtain a transponder before entering that route? Without a compatible transponder, would he or she be subject to the same fines as a local toll evader?

Also, a Slovak colleague mentioned how their highways are funded through the sale of vignettes, or decals. Each vignette is associated with the registration of a particular vehicle, and once attached to the windshield, cannot be removed or transferred. They can be purchased at gas stations, post offices and in certain stores, and have expirations of a week, month or year. Drivers caught on an expressway without a valid vignette will instantly be fined between 100 and 200 Euros. Has such a system been considered here in the US? Would that even be feasible?

[realjd]

In Florida, they do toll-by-plate for cars without SunPass transponders. The registered owner of the car gets a bill for the tolls, plus an administrative fee. If the car owner creates a SunPass account ahead of time (free online) and registers their tag, their account gets billed automatically with no administrative fee. Transponder users get a discount on tolls. SunPass transponders are available online, or for purchase at any CVS or Publix in the state, so tourists can either get one ahead of time or just buy one here.

[Michael in Philly]

I understand the need to have highway tolls, since maintenance doesn't come free, and the federal funding won't last forever. I do have some questions about the methods to collect the money.

I have read that some toll road authorities have converted to, or at least considered, all-electronic toll payment systems. The ETR 407 in Toronto, and the Homestead Extension of the Florida Turnpike come to mind. How would the toll be collected for someone who rarely uses a given toll road, or someone from out of state? Would such a diver have to obtain a transponder before entering that route? Without a compatible transponder, would he or she be subject to the same fines as a local toll evader?

Also, a Slovak colleague mentioned how their highways are funded through the sale of vignettes, or decals. Each vignette is associated with the registration of a particular vehicle, and once attached to the windshield, cannot be removed or transferred. They can be purchased at gas stations, post offices and in certain stores, and have expirations of a week, month or year. Drivers caught on an expressway without a valid vignette will instantly be fined between 100 and 200 Euros. Has such a system been considered here in the US? Would that even be feasible?

"Vignettes" are actually fairly common in Europe; Switzerland's had it for decades.
As for the U.S., don't give Congress any ideas.  Although if existing toll facilities had to participate, I might not mind, particularly as a Northeasterner (say $100 a year as a flat fee for a sticker good anywhere in the country and no more tolls on the Pennsylvania Turnpike or the Susquehanna bridges in Maryland or New York-area crossings....)  But with our toll facilities being run by so many different agencies, some private, I imagine it would be a political and budgetary nightmare to try to implement it.

[Riverside Frwy]

Here in California, we all use FasTrak, which is compatible all across the state. Considering we are such large state already and the fact that no surrounding states have Toll Facilities(Atleast that I know of) there is no issue. Plus, only the 91 Express lanes is FasTrak only, and even then you can still use the free-freeway next to it. Even if CA 241, 261, 133, 73, and 125 *were* FasTrak only, all those routes can be bypassed by a free alternative. However, I imagine for states where they have large Turnpikes that are major transcontinental corridors(like I-80 or I-95) cash facilities MUST be there as the Turnpikes aren't a local freeway and you will have many people from other states passing through.

[1995hoo]

I understand the need to have highway tolls, since maintenance doesn't come free, and the federal funding won't last forever. I do have some questions about the methods to collect the money.

I have read that some toll road authorities have converted to, or at least considered, all-electronic toll payment systems. The ETR 407 in Toronto, and the Homestead Extension of the Florida Turnpike come to mind. How would the toll be collected for someone who rarely uses a given toll road, or someone from out of state? Would such a diver have to obtain a transponder before entering that route? Without a compatible transponder, would he or she be subject to the same fines as a local toll evader?

....

Ontario 407 uses toll-by-plate as well for vehicles without transponders. Certain large trucks are required to have transponders in order to use the road.

I used a small portion of the Homestead Extension on my last trip to Florida. I got a SunPass Mini prior to the trip, but the signs at the Turnpike entrances were pretty clear about the toll-by-plate program, saying "We will bill you" and making it clear that non-SunPass drivers should not look for a tollbooth nor plan to stop to pay the toll. No doubt some people still get confused, though. I did not get a picture of the signs and Google Street View is out-of-date for the route we used.

The new Intercounty Connector in Maryland is configured similarly. You either use an E-ZPass or it reads your plate number and sends you a bill. The cost for toll-by-plate includes a $3 surcharge to help them defray the cost of the program.

I can think of at least one toll facility that is going to be electronic-only where a transponder will be required: Virginia's high occupancy/toll (HOT) lanes now under construction on the Beltway. An E-ZPass will be required for all users and there will be no tollbooths. They've announced that anyone will be able to drive in the HOT lanes and pay the toll with a regular E-ZPass; vehicles with three or more occupants will be allowed to ride free but will have to have a special E-ZPass that contains a switch to put it in "HOV mode" to tell the toll gantry not to charge you for the trip. The requirement for the transponder has something to do with the financial arrangement between VDOT and the private consortium constructing the lanes–if too many HOVs use the lanes, VDOT has to reimburse the consortium, so requiring the transponder is a way to keep track of how many HOVs use the facility. As "Riverside Frwy" notes, people without E-ZPasses won't have a problem because they will be able to use the four toll-free regular lanes located to the right of the HOT lanes.

[pianocello]

The Illinois Tollway Authority still has the cash option, but I think they're pushing the growth of using I-Pass. They even give people without I-Passes the option to go through the toll at 65 mph and pay online within a week.

[formulanone]

Homestead Extension of Florida's Turnpike just went to toll-by-plate in February, so Google's images are going to be erroneous for a while. Most travelers are from in-state, although I wonder if the areas near Orlando and its attractions will soon go that route.

Apparently, they will charge a $2.50 administrative fee for your personal vehicle:
http://www.floridasturnpike.com/all-electronictolling/TOLL-BY-PLATE.cfm

The rental car companies will likely charge you more to use their cashless toll transponders. I just paid an additional $10/week for the privilege to use it in Illinois a few months ago, for example. Totally expense-able, at least.

Interestingly, you can also "re-load" the SunPass through other methods (certain gas stations, but also other merchants):
http://usloc.epayworldwide.com/7867277 [beware of annoying CAPTCHA]

[NE2]

Here in California, we all use FasTrak, which is compatible all across the state. Considering we are such large state already and the fact that no surrounding states have Toll Facilities(Atleast that I know of) there is no issue. Plus, only the 91 Express lanes is FasTrak only, and even then you can still use the free-freeway next to it.

Aren't the I-15 express lanes FasTrak only? (Again, same deal with the free lanes next door.)

[oscar]

I have read that some toll road authorities have converted to, or at least considered, all-electronic toll payment systems. The ETR 407 in Toronto, and the Homestead Extension of the Florida Turnpike come to mind. How would the toll be collected for someone who rarely uses a given toll road, or someone from out of state? Would such a diver have to obtain a transponder before entering that route? Without a compatible transponder, would he or she be subject to the same fines as a local toll evader?

There's usually a service fee added to the toll (like $3 for Maryland's ICC), but no toll-evasion fines, if you get billed on a "toll-by-plate" basis for not having a transponder.

The real question is whether you'll get billed at all for light use of toll-by-plate facilities.  I've driven my Virginia-plated car on two toll-by-plate toll roads in Canada (the 407, and the new A-25 segment in the Montreal area) and two in Texas (the southernmost segment of the Dallas North toll road, and a new segment of TX 161), without being billed.  If I were a more frequenr user, or my car were registered in that province or state or an adjacent one (like NY for the Canadian roads, or OK for the Texas ones), I'd be more worried that the toll road operator would chase me down for the unpaid toll.

[1995hoo]

I have read that some toll road authorities have converted to, or at least considered, all-electronic toll payment systems. The ETR 407 in Toronto, and the Homestead Extension of the Florida Turnpike come to mind. How would the toll be collected for someone who rarely uses a given toll road, or someone from out of state? Would such a diver have to obtain a transponder before entering that route? Without a compatible transponder, would he or she be subject to the same fines as a local toll evader?

There's usually a service fee added to the toll (like $3 for Maryland's ICC), but no toll-evasion fines, if you get billed on a "toll-by-plate" basis for not having a transponder.

The real question is whether you'll get billed at all for light use of toll-by-plate facilities.  I've driven my Virginia-plated car on two toll-by-plate toll roads in Canada (the 407, and the new A-25 segment in the Montreal area) and two in Texas (the southernmost segment of the Dallas North toll road, and a new segment of TX 161), without being billed.  If I were a more frequenr user, or my car were registered in that province or state or an adjacent one (like NY for the Canadian roads, or OK for the Texas ones), I'd be more worried that the toll road operator would chase me down for the unpaid toll.

I've wondered the same thing. How much does it cost to send the bill to out-of-state one-time users? I believe "mtantillo" of this forum told me once that the various states and provinces have different regulations about accessing license-plate data for different purposes and that some of them charge. Depending on the cost, it could easily make a lot of sense for a state to go after motorists from an adjacent state if there's a lot of cross-traffic (say, Virginia drivers in Maryland, or New York drivers in New Jersey), but it might not make sense to go after the really distant ones where very few motorists from that place use the toll road (for example, I doubt the Homestead Extension in Florida sees very many plates from the Yukon Territory).

I don't consider Wikipedia to be a reliable source, but I note that their article on Ontario 407 states that due to privacy regulations only a few states, plus Ontario and Quebec, allow the road's operators access to license-plate databases, which effectively prevents them from billing drivers from other states. If that's true, I wonder whether the same sort of thing would affect toll-by-plate systems elsewhere.

[Dr Frankenstein]

The A25 bridge between Montréal and Laval accepts either the A25 transponder or bill-by-plate with a $5 administrative fee. (I honestly think it's too much). With a $1.50 off-peak toll, that brings it up to $6.50.

Regarding out of state plates; Doug, have you ever received your bill?

Regarding ON-407, it seems that some Quebecers do get their bill, and some don't...

[myosh_tino]

Here in California, we all use FasTrak, which is compatible all across the state. Considering we are such large state already and the fact that no surrounding states have Toll Facilities(Atleast that I know of) there is no issue. Plus, only the 91 Express lanes is FasTrak only, and even then you can still use the free-freeway next to it. Even if CA 241, 261, 133, 73, and 125 *were* FasTrak only, all those routes can be bypassed by a free alternative.

FasTrak is also used on all seven state-owned bridges, the Golden Gate Bridge and the I-680 Express Lane.

In the case of the bridges, cameras are used as a backup system in case it fails to read the transponder.  If someone uses the FasTrak only lanes that doesn't have a FasTrak account, then the owner of the vehicle is sent a toll violation notice asking that the toll plus a $25 fine be paid. The owner then has the option of opening a FasTrak account with the fine being placed into the account.  If there is an account associated with the license plate, then only the toll is deducted from the account.

The I-680 Express Lane has no video enforcement.

[Riverside Frwy]

FasTrak is also used on all seven state-owned bridges, the Golden Gate Bridge and the I-680 Express Lane.

Yes I know, that is what I meant by:

Here in California, we all use FasTrak, which is compatible all across the state.

[Brandon]

The Illinois Tollway Authority still has the cash option, but I think they're pushing the growth of using I-Pass. They even give people without I-Passes the option to go through the toll at 65 mph and pay online within a week.

They have one of the highest ETC usage rates in the nation around 80%, but still have the cash option at all toll plazas save one: Eola Rd on I-88.  But, yes, you have a 7 day grace period in which to pay.

[SSOWorld]

The Illinois Tollway Authority still has the cash option, but I think they're pushing the growth of using I-Pass. They even give people without I-Passes the option to go through the toll at 65 mph and pay online within a week.

Not exactly. You need at least an E-ZPass compatible transponder to pass though the open-road tolling.  Those without transponders get a violation notice and have to pay the large fine.  The only exception would be if you missed a toll and have a transponder (I-Pass easier than others) but forgot it, didn't mount it, or are out of funds, you have the 7-day grace period for paying the toll.  cash pay must be done on the cash lanes.