M50 Toll - Video Recognition

Capt'n Midnight

KhanTheMan wrote: »

So let me get this right.

We (the tax payer) didnt like paying the tolls on the toll bridge. We launched a campaign to get rid of the toll barriers. We BOUGHT the toll bridge. And now we PAY MORE to use it, even though WE OWN it now.

Well done whoever got that one under the radar. We know who you are.

Whats left do tax (over and above what we all pay straight out of our income anyway)?

Transport - Done.
Rubbish - Done.
Air - Done.
Water - Coming Soon.

The easiest way to tax people for driving is to add the tax on to the petrol - oh, thats done too.

Next you'll be paying tax on the water flowing under the bridge in New Ross just because you looked at it once.

you've missed out the bit about us still being tolled by the government long after the original 30 year contract with NRA runs out

oh yeah the AA reckon you could replace all the tolls with 2c on a litre of petrol , which would also save millions on the annual collection fees

http://www.guardian.co.uk/uk/2008/aug/31/transport

At the opening of the toll yesterday morning transport minister Noel Ahern said the Irish government could not commit itself to abolishing tolls on the M50's Westlink bridge even after the cost of constructing the motorway is paid off, probably within 12 years. 'I won't speculate on what will happen after that,' Ahern said.

He also defended the €600m bill for the project, saying that in time it would prove a wise investment.

jhegarty

murphaph wrote: »

A tag is the only safe option IMO. If you only have a tag or pay later options then there's no account to 'hack'.

You don't think the tag can be hacked ?

dymonaz

Deleted User wrote: »

After the reclassifications they will be much longer, Athlone - Dublin will be 70 miles without a service station.

Damn... I guess we'll just have to go destroy it then, to make it shorter... :P

murphaph

jhegarty wrote: »

You don't think the tag can be hacked ?

You're right of course. I should have saiid "less risky" rather than "safe". A tag must be hackable and possible to clone but it would take more effort and of course knowledge to hack someone's tag and clone it rather than simply copying someone's number plate.

L1011

Deleted User wrote: »

After the reclassifications they will be much longer, Athlone - Dublin will be 70 miles without a service station.

Athlone to Fiveways in Newry won't have a service station! There is *one* the opposite direction (Texaco Foxhunter) but thats it.

murphaph

murphaph wrote: »

You're right of course. I should have saiid "less risky" rather than "safe". A tag must be hackable and possible to clone but it would take more effort and of course knowledge to hack someone's tag and clone it rather than simply copying someone's number plate.

If someone was ever to go through with hacking a tag, they just need to make a set of plates to go along with the "cloned" tag and assuming they have used the same make and colour of vehicle you are in the shit

Guy:Incognito

Deleted User wrote: »

If someone was ever to go through with hacking a tag, they just need to make a set of plates to go along with the "cloned" tag and assuming they have used the same make and colour of vehicle you are in the shit

Surely "in the sh it" is implying a lot more than the reality of the situation? If erroneous charges start appearing (in reality it'll be once or twice a day for a coupel of days) you will notice and report it. The end result will be a new tag issued and your money refunded after inverstigation. At worst your down €10-€15 for the duration of the checks.

Stekelly

Stekelly wrote: »

Surely "in the sh it" is implying a lot more than the reality of the situation? If erroneous charges start appearing (in reality it'll be once or twice a day for a coupel of days) you will notice and report it. The end result will be a new tag issued and your money refunded after inverstigation. At worst your down €10-€15 for the duration of the checks.

That assumes that you check your account daily! how many of us will do that!

Guy:Incognito

Deleted User wrote: »

That assumes that you check your account daily! how many of us will do that!

Well I did say a couple of days so even allow for 2 -3 days.

2 cars going through it twice a day would eat6 through your credi and start you noticign things fairly quick.

Well I did say a couple of days so even allow for 2 -3 days.

2 cars going through it twice a day would eat6 through your credi and start you noticign things fairly quick.

Sad fact is that most people would only check once every couple of weeks or so, even more so when the "novelty" has worn off.

Think - how often do you check your on-line bank account!

* OP name removed as this is a generic query! (attack the post, not the poster!)

mobpd

I went ahead and set up a video post pay account.
I have been through the toll bridge just 6 times so far and yet only 4 charges are showing on my web account that I will be paying for. The other 2 times are probably where I was close behind a truck.....

So it seems that going video recognition option offers the possibility of "free" trips - I assume there is no "legal" onus on me to tell eflow otherwise?

But what if I was pay as you go - I would have had to pay for the 6 trips - do eflow then bank the additional 2 trips - or would they be logged as credits on my licence plate?

mathie

Deleted User wrote: »

Think - how often do you check your on-line bank account!

Every working day!

MG

I received a bill today even though I was about 200 miles away from the M50 when the incident has occurred and have never driven the car in querstion on the M50.

Either the video technology is not working or someone is using my plates.

Just as bad again when I call the tag operator an automatic voice tells me that all operators are busy and hangs up.

Not good enough in my opinion as this could be a garda matter is someone is using my plates.

MG

Just a tip that I found on another message board:

Choose option 5 "as gaeilge" and you won't get cut off.

Got through to someone after a few minutes waiting. Supposed to call me back after investigating but I won't be holding my breath.

tommycahir

MG wrote: »

Just a tip that I found on another message board:

Choose option 5 "as gaeilge" and you won't get cut off.

Got through to someone after a few minutes waiting. Supposed to call me back after investigating but I won't be holding my breath.

It really doesn't matter what option you choose as they will only take your details and "investigate the issue" and get back to you in a few days, and that they are only taking calls at the moment :mad: . From my time working in a helpdesk and now being PM when setting them up that is an atrocious service and I have never seen the like of it before!

Despite having 2 STR notices for northbound on 18 & 19 (i use it both ways everyday!) while having a tag that was working every other day the guy there just said that not to worry about it and ignore it as it will be sorted out as I have a tag. Now what sort of assurance to a customer is that?

veryangryman

MYOB wrote: »

Athlone to Fiveways in Newry won't have a service station! There is *one* the opposite direction (Texaco Foxhunter) but thats it.

Honest to god if i ever met anyone who drives Athlone to Newry using M6/M4/M50/M1 route, i would hit them. im exaggerating of course but you get the picture...

There are NUMEROUS alternatives to going via m50 that way. Or god forbid someone might stop off in one of the bypasses towns or villages (which by the way have little to no traffic now, so can get on/off). But no, your more than happy to pay 3 tolls and STILL cry about a lack of rip-off service stations along the way.

If you REALLY need to motorway it so much, take M6 to Tyrellspass, perhaps stopping there for a wee.. N52 to Delvin, N51 to M1 north of Drogheda.

Result?

No tolls
Motorway for 2/3 of the journey
Grandads bladder doesnt burst
You get to see some of our country en route

Conclusion: There is more to life than Motorways

And no, i havent had my coffee yet! :pac:

AlekSmart

Conclusion No 2. This entire shambles is more proof,if twas needed,that the NRA and the present Government have actively colluded in perpetrating a massive Fraud on the general public.

In spite of all those who meekly express their desire to possess the latest "In" tag or to give their personal banking details to what amounts to a crowd of confidence tricksters,there may be the start of a revolt...of an Irish kind.... Phoning "As Gaelige"......FANTASTIC !! I LOVE IT

IIMII

MG wrote: »

Just a tip that I found on another message board:

Choose option 5 "as gaeilge" and you won't get cut off.

Yes, but the don't answer as Gaeilge, and they didnt have anyone able to when I rang. That's bull**** when they haven't anyone that can