License Plate Scanners.

[paulsharvey]

Google 'Flock Security'. Their cameras are going up everywhere, probably a billion dollar industry, and they use AI 'finger printing' of cars in addition to LPR. They record frequent trips, ect. I think there is like 18 in my county, that i specifically know of, and I'm sure more I haven't noticed. Very creepy big brother stuff

 

[WinterDeere]

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.

In PA, we only have license plates on the rear of the vehicle. But our toll cameras still take simultaneous photos of front and back of vehicle, for this reason.

But I agree with the "guilty until proven innocent" comment. These things are billed without any system even performing the most basic check of whether that plate is valid for the vehicle type, etc.

 

[Sprinkler Fitter]

My wife got a text a couple weeks ago saying she still owed money for toll roads in Minnesota.

There are no toll roads in Minnesota, a few express lanes, but no toll roads.

 

[etpm]

License plate scammers is what they should be called. In Lynnwood WA they installed a bunch of cameras and then shortened the yellow light period. So all sorts of folks who are used to the longer times are now getting tickets. The city is "nice" about it though, the ticket is charged as a parking infraction, not a moving violation, so your insurance doesn't go up. I'm sure they do this so that people won't fight the tickets, which costs the city money. A total scam.
Eric

 

[WinterDeere]

License plate scammers is what they should be called. In Lynnwood WA they installed a bunch of cameras and then shortened the yellow light period. So all sorts of folks who are used to the longer times are now getting tickets. The city is "nice" about it though, the ticket is charged as a parking infraction, not a moving violation, so your insurance doesn't go up. I'm sure they do this so that people won't fight the tickets, which costs the city money. A total scam.
Eric

In the old days, you'd get the town paper interested, they'd print a story, people would post commentary, etc.

Now... neighbors.com and facebook. Assuming someone in the know is willing to name the genius who pulled those levers, elected officials really hate it when you call them out by name for an unpopular move.

 

[ultrarunner]

A retired senior grandma never had a ticket in her life and got a photo ticket on the intersection she crossed 40+ years nearby.

It didn’t sit well with her and she made it her crusade.

The yellows were shortened but she proved the yellow was 1/2 second less than state law and resulted in over a thousand tickets being tossed…

 

[1Mech]

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 don't know about Florida, but in Oklahoma, if you have an account, you get a little tag which affixes to the windshield and is read by the scanner overhead. I was in Florida just this past week, their toll system also accepts Oklahoma's Pikepass system, so that should show up on my account next month. No need to read the plates with that.

 

[1Mech]

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 !!!!!!!!!!!!!"

One must be careful when playing with fire!!
Guess who didn't have a hot meal waiting for him that night!!

 

[WinterDeere]

I don't know about Florida, but in Oklahoma, if you have an account, you get a little tag which affixes to the windshield and is read by the scanner overhead. I was in Florida just this past week, their toll system also accepts Oklahoma's Pikepass system, so that should show up on my account next month. No need to read the plates with that.

That's how it started here, 25 years ago. It was called EZ Pass, and we still have them. I think I get a discount rate on tolls for still using it, but honestly I've never looked, as I don't commute toll roads enough to matter anymore.

But enough people were still using manual tolls that congestion at the toll booths was still a serious problem. Traffic would back up so far at some exchanges (eg. Mid County north of Philly, or King of Prussia (KoP)), that the EZ Pass'ers would get blocked, and sometimes even backing up all the way onto the highway, where it would impede traffic (esp. KoP).

So, starting about 5-10 years ago, they started putting up license plate cameras, to eliminate the toll booths completely. Now, even those who don't have EZ Pass get a monthly bill in the mail for their tolls, and the toll booths are all closed or gone.

Having commuted to Billy Joel's Allentown everyday in my 20's, I used to look forward to Memorial Day as the week all the cute college girls would show up in the toll booths. It was a very popular summer job for college girls, around here. Of course, if I commuted to KoP, where the wait for the toll booth could be 20+ minutes, I'd have felt very differently.

 

[oosik]

Some of us - like me - have no experience with toll booths, EZ passes, license plate cameras or window stickers. EA WA state - land w/out any tolls. Somebody must have really had a brain fart. Yet, another way to tax the public.

However - we DO have the dreaded red light cameras.

 

[Willman]

That's how it started here, 25 years ago. It was called EZ Pass, and we still have them. I think I get a discount rate on tolls for still using it, but honestly I've never looked, as I don't commute toll roads enough to matter anymore.

But enough people were still using manual tolls that congestion at the toll booths was still a serious problem. Traffic would back up so far at some exchanges (eg. Mid County north of Philly, or King of Prussia (KoP)), that the EZ Pass'ers would get blocked, and sometimes even backing up all the way onto the highway, where it would impede traffic (esp. KoP).

So, starting about 5-10 years ago, they started putting up license plate cameras, to eliminate the toll booths completely. Now, even those who don't have EZ Pass get a monthly bill in the mail for their tolls, and the toll booths are all closed or gone.

Having commuted to Billy Joel's Allentown everyday in my 20's, I used to look forward to Memorial Day as the week all the cute college girls would show up in the toll booths. It was a very popular summer job for college girls, around here. Of course, if I commuted to KoP, where the wait for the toll booth could be 20+ minutes, I'd have felt very differently.

In PA with EZ pass you have an required account, supported by 2 credit cards, when your account gets down to a predetermined level, they recharge your primary CC so they always have your money to get the toll paid.
You need to keep attention on your account to make sure your not getting screwed

 

[WinterDeere]

Some of us - like me - have no experience with toll booths, EZ passes, license plate cameras or window stickers. EA WA state - land w/out any tolls. Somebody must have really had a brain fart. Yet, another way to tax the public.

However - we DO have the dreaded red light cameras.

Pick your poison, there's good and bad to every location.

Here, speed limits are "merely a suggestion", as most put it, as our local police are not allowed to use radar or other means of determining speed. They have to follow you some minimum interval at constant distance (0.5 mi?) without losing visual, or catch you with what amounts to a stopwatch and very obvious cones or painted lines on the road... meaning you have to be very uniquely oblivious to be caught, and as a result, no one here drives anywhere near the speed limit on local roads.

I don't know about the legality of red light cameras around here, but I've never seen one, or heard of anyone being caught by one, in our little corner of the state.

 

[WinterDeere]

In PA with EZ pass you have an required account, supported by 2 credit cards, when your account gets down to a predetermined level, they recharge your primary CC so they always have your money to get the toll paid.
You need to keep attention on your account to make sure your not getting screwed

My wife manages that one, and she pays attention to nothing, so I'm sure I'm getting screwed. But I'm sure it's a small screw, not worth the time or worry I'd spend on it.

 

[kenmbz]

They tried red light cameras in NJ.
One company I worked for got 72 tickets, for a backhoe working and intersection, with a police escort at the time.
Seems the company was sending them out instead of the police, which in NJ was against the law.
Eventually this died on the vine there, and in PA there are only a few red light cameras.
Where high accident rates happened.
None by me, but who knows for how long.

I have had to fight the ezpass a few times, it's not hard, but quite annoying.

And for mail in payments, there is a separate fee in some states.
Do they still charge the fee if there are no toll takers?

 

[Topzide]

In PA, we only have license plates on the rear of the vehicle. But our toll cameras still take simultaneous photos of front and back of vehicle, for this reason.

But I agree with the "guilty until proven innocent" comment. These things are billed without any system even performing the most basic check of whether that plate is valid for the vehicle type, etc.

That's fine,but unless you have your name on your shirt and no sunglasses on, it's pretty hard to confirm that it is the first registered owner driving the vehicle. There are plenty of cases where tickets were the tickets were dropped! It's a fat cash cow, and against the basic part of the rights, we have to meet your accuser! They gonna walk you out to a pole with a camera on it? Just my 2 cents on the matter.

 

[WinterDeere]

I'm remembering now, when the first speed cameras started showing up in Germany in the 1990's. It became sport, mostly for aggressive young drivers, to go steal the cameras. They relied on film technology, the police had to come change out the film rolls on a certain schedule. If you knew you'd been caught by one, it became a game to go steal the camera or the film, before the next scheduled police stop at that camera.

 

[deserteagle71]

Some of us - like me - have no experience with toll booths, EZ passes, license plate cameras or window stickers. EA WA state - land w/out any tolls. Somebody must have really had a brain fart. Yet, another way to tax the public.

However - we DO have the dreaded red light cameras.

No toll booths or cameras on any of the roads I drive!

There are other hazards to look out for, though....

 

[Chewwy]

Seems an easy solution to plate readers or cameras could be a muddy vehicle with lots of mud on the plate.

 

[deserteagle71]

Seems an easy solution to plate readers or cameras could be a muddy vehicle with lots of mud on the plate.

That's a ticketable offense around here. All the mines had to establish washing stations where dirt roads meet pavement so their license plates and windshields could be cleaned off.

 

[Chewwy]

That's a ticketable offense around here. All the mines had to establish washing stations where dirt roads meet pavement so their license plates and windshields could be cleaned off.

Maybe in Nevada since it’s really close to the left coast.

Would never get a ticket here or most places I have lived and worked. Dirty snow works just as well also. You may get stopped and warned but that is unlikely.

Have never seen washing stations where dirt roads or driveways connect to paved roads anywhere.