"Nick Finnigan" wrote in message
o.uk...
On 08/10/2012 10:52, tim..... wrote:

wrote in message
...
I heard on LBC this morning that apparently the toll gates will be gone
by 2014
and a "free flow" system will be implemented. How does this work? Is
everyone
who every uses the bridge going to have to by an electronic tag or will
they
just do it by number plate recognition and send you a bill for 2 quid in
the
post? Or will they use ANPR to send you a fine of 100 quid if you don't
buy a tag (no doubt expensive) and just drive through?

Will probably be a free for all for foreign registered vehicles and
trucks.

I think that this is new territory for everybody and that the system of
collecting is almost certainly going to evolve over time. Other
countries
are experimenting with free flow charging and no one system has proved to
be entirely satisfactory.

I'd say Norway had got beyond the experimental stage (and charge over 15
pounds for the Finnøy Tunnel). Apparently you buy a tag for 20 pounds, and
pre-load it using a credit card. Visitors can pay at petrol stations based
on ANPR within 3 days, or wait for an invoice from Euro Car Parks.

I didn't mean that individual countries were experimenting, I meant that
each county has a different system, which they think is right for their
current circumstances, but which may not be right going forwards.

I note that the Norwegian system does not do away with manual payments,
which doesn't make it suitable as a solution where that is required.

tim