Electronic Tolling... Some More Information

Serving the Customer... Tolling is Evolving

How Electronic Toll Collection Works

In the Toll Lane

Vehicle identification - a reader detects an in-vehicle transponder (called a “tag”) at the toll collection point. The tag’s unique number is transmitted to a tag reader, and the number links to the customer’s established toll account, allowing the toll to be deducted from the account.
Vehicle classification - as the vehicle passes through the ETC lane, in-lane equipment detects vehicle type, number of axles, and other factors that affect the toll amount due.

In Different Operational Configurations

Within a traditional toll plaza:
		This toll lane operates within a conventional toll plaza; it may be dedicated to only ETC customers or also have a toll collector present to handle cash toll transactions.
Open Road Tolling:
		To increase traffic flow and travel speeds at electronic toll collection points, Open Road Tolling may be implemented where traffic patterns and physical conditions permit the safe separation and diversion of vehicles which still must stop to pay tolls in traditional cash lanes. Shown to the left, tag readers and cameras are frequently mounted on overhead gantries in open road Express Toll Lanes.

Behind the Scenes in the Customer Service Center (“Back Office”)

Transaction processing - The toll tag number and other lane-collected data are transmitted from the lane to the Customer Service Center, and the appropriate toll is deducted from a customer account associated with the tag’s unique number.
Violation enforcement - For vehicles without toll tags which may travel through an ETC lane, many of today’s electronic toll systems classify the vehicle as a toll violator and cameras capture images of the license plate so that a customer service center can contact the registered owner of the vehicle about the toll amount due.

Interoperability, Video Tolling and All-Electronic Tolling

Toll customers already benefit from being able to use one tag and one account where toll operators use compatible toll tags. For example interoperability exists among different toll operators offering SunPass in Florida and across the 14 states comprising the E-ZPass Group. Vehicles having incompatible toll tags, or with no tag at all, can pay tolls through video tolling, oftentimes called “plate-based tolling.” Similar in concept to the current way toll operators issue violation notices to toll evaders, plate-based tolling captures an image of the vehicle’s license plate if a toll tag is not detected. The toll operator then obtains contact information from the pertinent state motor vehicle department (“DMV”) to identify the vehicle’s registered owner, and to issue toll invoices periodically. For those traveling among different regional toll systems with currently incompatible tags, broader interoperability can be achieved in the future by linking to the customer’s toll account through the customer-authorized sharing of license plate information among those regional systems.

Additional Information