TOLLS AND FEES

Nicholstones · Guru

RE: TOLLS AND FEES

Cupie · Guru

Popeye wrote:
Marj as I travel in states that do have them. I for one think it is much better to drive straight across said toll roads then to drive around the back streets to my destinations, with my 25Ft van on the back of my tug.

Tend to agree, even though as previously mentioned I HATE them. Maybe it's the principle of the things that I object to, though the user pays approach seems to be growing in support these days in many areas.

I suppose that where there are reasonable alternatives available I can't be too critical. And where it is new infrastructure not paid for in whole or part by the public purse than I can live with it & utilise it when it suits, like you do when pulling a large van thru a city.

If you have traveled in west Europe in recent years you will be aware of how endemic they are. The infrastructure there is amazing. I often wonder if their preoccupation with this sort of stuff is part of their debt problem .. but that's getting way off topic so I won't go down that road (get the pun? ha ha)

brickies · Guru

Hope Cruising granny not in jail while everybody working out these Etags may have to take the hat around to get her out

Happywanderer · The Master

CG is off working at the moment in a place where there are no tolls. She will be happy about that.

neilnruth · Guru

We have an etag for NSW which also does other states. We wouldn't be without it as you never know when there will be a toll road in your journey - and pulling the van on the toll roads is so much easier. We did the M7 today which just flowed in to the Hume Hwy and we were out of Sydney from Richmond Rd in less than an hour to Picton Rd. Great. And the toll is just put on our a/c. When we get the statement I always check and there has never been a mistake yet.

Smokeydk · Guru

Popeye.......I have etag....if ever I go through Melbourne......learnt a lesson.....as mentioned before.......forgot to register the caravan.on one trip....even though the Pajero had a Etag on windscreen....the caravan wasnt registered with them....it is now

brickies · Guru

I believe in Queensland the scanner and camera take image of the front of car or truck, Has when I talk to Govia I was told I did not have to register my caravan , has there is no charge for the caravan only the Tug

neilnruth · Guru

Our NSW etag is set behind the rear vision mirror so just picks up the signal as we go under. No need for photos.

jack biggles · Senior Member

I have an etag. Sometimes it beeps when I go through the tolls, sometimes it doesnt. I couldnt understand why. I rang the toll mob and they were mostly rather disinterested & told me everything was okay on my account.

The one thing that confuses me about Qld tolls is I never know how much its costing me because they just have the overhead toll thing but don't tell you the price. Got no idea how they can get away with that. Imagine if woolies and coles didnt have prices on the products on the selves and just slugged you with a final bill......get a few noses out of joint I would suspect.

Not that I'm trying to support woolies and coles, them and the govt are all friggin theiving mongrels in my view. I happy to pay for the roads I drive along, never the less but please tell me how much your taking from my account as I pass through......if err its not too much trouble. SHEISH!

Happywanderer · The Master

Funny you should say that Jack Biggles. Our local hardware store doesn't have prices on anything. When I asked why I was told it takes too long to put price tickets on everything and if the price changes before its sold they would have to change the ticket.
Now isn't that price rorting.

pauline · Guru

Jack B if you have an etag just register online with govia and you can check your account.........ie how much you are charged and when they take a direct debit out to top up you account. Sometimes my etag doesn't beep either but if you are registered you can always check to make sure they take it, I think they go on your rego no but I have had no problems so far...........

Ron and Shirley · Senior Member

jack biggles wrote:
The one thing that confuses me about Qld tolls is I never know how much its costing me because they just have the overhead toll thing but don't tell you the price.
<snip>
I happy to pay for the roads I drive along, never the less but please tell me how much your taking from my account as I pass through......if err its not too much trouble. SHEISH!

Maybe this will help https://www.govia.com.au/via/home/About+go+via/Toll+costs+by+tolling+point/

jack biggles · Senior Member

Thankyou HW, Pauline & Ron/Shirl.

All so much help, although I still think they should have a digital board with toll prices on it, not so hard.

Thats one hell of a neat looking rig you have there ron & shirl. SENSATIONAL!

Cruising Granny · Guru

OK folks, here I go. The follow-up to the toll scenario.
Firstly, to anyone living in a non-toll state, it is an OFFENCE to not be registered for an etag or similar toll-paying device.
It's an interesting way of raising revenue. I paid $20 for the etag with an additional $40 credit. I haven't been through a tollway since, and the monthly fee of $2.75 is slowly whittling away my credit. Interesting.
They toll people alleged they sent me accounts for the outstanding tolls. I've since found out they sent them to Broome, despite the fact the WA Rego Dept has my current address, and my renewal, AND THE INFRINGEMENT NOTICES FOUND ME IN ADELAIDE.
I smell a Victorian toll rat!
I had no idea I'd passed through a toll "gate" the first 2 times. The third time I was forced into the tunnel by an moronic motorist who jammed me out of the exit lane despite a long warning by my left indicator I'd intended to do so.
I explained this to the toll people and I never heard another word. Mind you, there could be infringement notice out there somewhere.
So the Vic Fines Department has dropped the first October fine, but persist with the second one, which I'm still appealing.
I've NEVER refused to pay THE TOLL. But I protest at being fined for something I didn't know about in the first place. Demanding a fine is fraud. I am still willing to pay THE TOLL. I still don't know the value of the toll.
If I knew I owed for the 2 tolls I would have authorised City Link to use the credit in my account to cover the cost.
Accessing my online account was another problem. I couldn't do it because I didn't have a PIN number, but I couldn't get in to get a PIN number, so I couldn't even see my account. When I finally did, there is no mention there of the outstanding tolls.
To obtain the photos of my vehicle through the toll cameras I had to get a money order for $15 @ $7.50 each. To obtain a money order I found out the fee was $7.95 per MO. So if I wanted 1 photo the fee would have been more than the MO. They told me at the Post Office it's the fee in line with bank cheques. Can anyone confirm the cost of a bank cheque.
I have now sent a letter with the details of this scenario, offering to pay the outstanding toll, but not the fine. Stand by for more.
Unfortunately, there has been no publicity about the tollway procedure in the non-toll states. So I'm wondering how many interstate travellers are trapped by the toll grab. We can't stop at the gate to drop a coin in a bucket, so we automatically offence and get fined.
Yep, that sounds fair and democratic to me. NOT!!!

Cruising Granny · Guru

Smokeydk wrote:
Popeye.......I have etag....if ever I go through Melbourne......learnt a lesson.....as mentioned before.......forgot to register the caravan.on one trip....even though the Pajero had a Etag on windscreen....the caravan wasnt registered with them....it is now

Why does the van have to be registered?

I have no idea when I'd be going through a toll way, with or without the van.

That's taking greed a bit too far.

Isn't registration and fuel tax supposed to go to road infrastructure and maintenance revenue?

That means the eastern staters toll-way users get hit lots more than the rest of us.

Happywanderer · The Master

Was told by my hairdresser the other day if travelling the tollways in Brisbane you can pop into any Caltex service station and buy a toll ticket.

CG, are you saying anyone and EVERYONE has to be registered for an etag regardless of them ever going near a tollway. That doesn't make sense. I don't have one and have no intention of getting one.

jan-ed · Veteran Member

brickies wrote:
I believe in Queensland the scanner and camera take image of the front of car or truck, Has when I talk to Govia I was told I did not have to register my caravan , has there is no charge for the caravan only the Tug

We thought the same, but going over the Gateway Bridge, the camera did take a photo of the back of our caravan, and because we were told (by the man at the Caltex servo where we bought the ticket from) that there was no charge for the caravan, we thought no more about it until we were sent the photo..and a fine!!

You dont have to pay for your van....but you do have to register it so when the photo is taken from the rear...they can then link up your van to your car rego.

Jan

Cruising Granny · Guru

It seems there is still confusion among those who live with and use these roads regularly. What chance do the interstaters have?

HW, it doesn't go as far as that, but bear in mind it is an instant offence to pass through a tollway if the vehicle is not registered with the toll gatherers. You can phone or email if you do happen to pass through unintentionally, pay the fine or whatever, and then you're expected to register.

I believe it's a bit harsh on those travellers who have no idea what this tollway system is, how it works, where the tollways are, and how to register.

The one and only time I travelled over the Gateway Bridge with my van, I paid by cash at the booth. It was automated about 12 months later. I haven't been through there since.

In my opinion it's another tax / levy being forced on everyone. What I'd like to know is the ratio of toll going to revenue and the ratio to the profitable coffers of the toll managers.

Ron and Shirley · Senior Member

Cruising Granny wrote:

Firstly, to anyone living in a non-toll state, it is an OFFENCE to not be registered for an etag or similar toll-paying device.

What a load of codswallop!!!!!!!!

Why would an Interstate visitor who does not go anywhere near the Toll roads need an e-tag. Many Victorians dont have e-tags because they rarely, if at all, use the Toll roads.

However if they are a driver, who is aware of their surrounds most would see all the Toll road signs and contact via phone or web to get a day pass to cover their trip, unless they thought they could get away with it.

You say Three trips on the Melbourne Tollways and you were not aware??????? Bit of a worry.

CG To somewhat answer your question re where does the money go. The Tollways in Vic were in the main built by companies that over time hope to return a profit for them and their shareholders.

The question you should ask is how many try it on. You know the story I didnt know I was on a Tollway despite all the signs. Probably hundreds pop up on their computer every day. You seem to have had a bit of win, so good on you.

BTW In Vic, and when in NSW, with the van attached we have used Toll roads without any problems. In Vic for certain the Toll cameras photograph the front number plate. That is why motorbikes travel for free as they have no front number plate only a rear one, much to the pain of the Tollway companies.

Esmeralda · Guru

I have an E-tag and my van is not registered only the car - but I have never had any notification from EastLink or fine - just beeps as normal when I go through the checkpoints.

countryroad · Senior Member

After reading this I'll be hoping my Etag from Sydney works wherever I am travelling as I won't want to alter it.

I know that sometimes it can be confusing being somewhere new, I don't like driving in Sydney centre you appear to have millie seconds to decide which lane as every lane is full of folk who drive that particular stretch every day...or seem to, I ended

up crossing the harbour bridge then had to find a spot to do a u turn legally, no sat navs then.

Maybe a good reason to have a sat nav to cover your back in unfamiliar places.

This is really for us " Searchers " who look for past information, for help.

-- Edited by countryroad on Tuesday 20th of November 2012 09:41:24 AM