Open road tolling

Transponders are a receiver-transmitter that will generate a reply signal upon proper electronic interrogation. Transponders are an adaptation of military identification friend or foe technology. Most current systems rely on radio-frequency identification, where an antenna at the toll gate communicates with a transponder on the vehicle via dedicated short-range communications (DSRC). Some early systems used barcodes affixed to each vehicle, to be read optically at the toll booth. Optical systems proved to have poor reading reliability, especially when faced with inclement weather and dirty vehicles.

Automatic number plate recognition (ANPR) or an automatic license plate reader (ALPR) is a system that uses optical character recognition on images to read the license plates on vehicles.[7] While the technology is most commonly used by law enforcement for cataloging vehicle movements and traffic enforcement,[8] ANPR has also been used as a method of electronic toll collection.[9] ANPR can be used in conjunction with transponder systems. If a transponder is not detected on a vehicle, a system of cameras located at each junction logs the vehicle's unique identity and an invoice is mailed.[10] The use of ANPR reduces fraud related to cash transactions[11] or non-payment,[10] makes charging effective, and reduces the amount of required manpower to enforce the toll road, but requires expensive computer software.[12]

However, ANPR usage raises questions over privacy and data protection. ANPR allows police to automatically compile vast databases of innocent road users' movements, thus invading their privacy.[13] Another concern is that the collected data can be abused by employees or stolen by computer hackers. This has led the police of Scotland to delete their collection of ANPR records in 2016.[12] As ANPR is a new technology, its use is often not tightly regulated;[13] it is unclear whether ANPR in Scotland complied with the UK data retention laws.[12]

• Highway 407, ON—entire length[14]

All three tolled sections of New Zealand highways use ANPR. Tolls can be paid at selected gas stations, online, or by setting up an account.[15]

• Auckland Northern Gateway
• Tauranga Eastern Link
• Tauranga Takitimu Drive

• Motorway A2, Konin – Stryków since 2021; toll booths disused, payment possible through special pre-paid ticket or by a mobile app
• Motorway A4, Wrocław – Gliwice since 2021; toll booths disused, payment possible through special pre-paid ticket or by a mobile app

• Dartford Crossing - toll booths removed in November 2014[16]

The following is a list of some of the bridges and highways in the United States that use open road tolling:

• Bayonne Bridge—Tolled for traffic going into Staten Island[17]
• Benicia–Martinez Bridge—two lanes since 2007[18]
• Claiborne Pell Newport Bridge, RI—entire length[19]
• Dallas North Tollway—entire length[20]
• Dolphin Expressway—entire length[21]
• Don Shula Expressway—entire length[22][23]
• E-470—entire length[24]
• Evergreen Point Floating Bridge[25]
• Florida's Turnpike—entire length[26]
• Grand Parkway—entire length[27]
• Golden Gate Bridge—Tolled only for traffic going into San Francisco[28]
• Goethals Bridge—Tolled only for traffic going into Staten Island[29]
• Hardy Toll Road—entire length[30]
• Illinois Tollway—entire length, Converted fully to cashless in March 2020[31]
• Interstate 405 (Washington)—Tolled only on high-occupancy toll lanes between Bellevue and Lynnwood[32]
• Lee Roy Selmon Expressway—entire length, including the elevated express lanes along the central portion of the highway (although the express lanes are not open to traffic at all times)[33]
• Maryland Route 200—entire length[34]
• Massachusetts Turnpike—entire length[35][36]
• Maine Turnpike—Mile 8.8 toll plaza in York[37]
• New York State Thruway—entire length, toll booth removal in progress in 2021[38][39]
• Orchard Pond Parkway in Leon County, Florida[40]
• Outerbridge Crossing—Tolled for traffic going into Staten Island[41]
• Pennsylvania Turnpike—Converted fully to cashless in March 2020, will move toll points from ramps to main line at a later date[42]
• Poinciana Parkway—entire length[43]
• President George Bush Turnpike—entire length[44]
• Sam Houston Tollway—between Interstate 69 and Crosby Freeway; between Interstate 10 and US-90 ALT (including the Sam Houston Ship Channel Bridge), and between the Westpark Tollway and Interstate 45[45]
• San Francisco–Oakland Bay Bridge—Tolled only for traffic going into San Francisco[46]
• Snapper Creek Expressway—entire length[22][23]
• State Route 99 Tunnel[47]
• Tacoma Narrows Bridge—Tolled only for traffic going into Tacoma[48]
• U.S. Route 301 in Delaware—entire length[49]
• Washington State Route 167—Tolled only on high-occupancy toll lanes between Renton and Pacific[50]
• Westpark Tollway—entire length[51]