Tyne tunnel toll charges.

Stuartarthur · - Sep 11, 2022 - 20:58

Living north of the Tyne we regularly travel through the Tyne tunnel ( A19). The normal charge for which is £1.90 or £1.71 if you have an account.
Therefore being a Yorkshireman by birth I registered our 3 vehicles on this account to save £0.19 per journey.
Since the change from a barrier system to ANPR system, some months ago now, I have never been charged for passage when in the series 1 or my 73 Alfa. The silver on black plates cannot be read by their system.
I have contacted the Tyne Tunnel operators to point this out, but can get no sense from them.
Apparently the ANPR cannot read this type/style of plate.
But because the vehicles are registered to the account they cannot prosecute or fine me for non payment of the toll.
Food for thought, for those using the tunnel.

Graeme · **Reply #1 -** Sep 12, 2022 - 08:50

Great! Thanks, Stuartarthur... I'll remember that the next time I have to dive through the drain up to Northumberland.

But hang on a minute... won't the Series 1 fuel consumption when compared to even the Disco 2 mean that it'll cost me more to drive up through Co.Durham than I'll save in tolls?

I'll have to go away and think about that!

autorover1 · **Reply #2 -** Sep 12, 2022 - 09:06

Quote from: Stuartarthur on Sep 11, 2022 - 20:58

But because the vehicles are registered to the account they cannot prosecute or fine me for non payment of the toll.
Food for thought, for those using the tunnel.

Surely as it cannot read the plates ,it doesn't know which vehicle , so the fact its registered in the system makes no difference , or do they manually check the image , in which case they could charge the account. Could it be Historic Vehicles are exempt?
I cannot understand that they install a system that cannot read older style ( legal) number plates. It's not as though it's an impossible task. Norway uses ANPR for its toll collection and it happily read my original alloy S1 plates both in daylight and at night in unlit areas, and consequently sent me the relevant invoice for payment.

scimart · **Reply #3 -** Sep 12, 2022 - 10:54

If it is registered then there’s no intent to evade the charges but not registering would probably mean that you should go through a manual payment channel - failure to do so might then be some sort of offence.

Sent from my iPhone using LRSOC

Dpaz · **Reply #4 -** Sep 12, 2022 - 13:25

There are supermarkets anpr parking systems that do not recognise my white on black plates. They have a screen showing your number going in but not my S1. I wish I knew if Euro Car Parks can. I would love to shaft them like they tried to shaft me.

strang · **Reply #5 -** Sep 12, 2022 - 18:16

Quote from: Dpaz on Sep 12, 2022 - 13:25

There are supermarkets anpr parking systems that do not recognise my white on black plates.

Same here

vince carr · **Reply #6 -** Sep 12, 2022 - 21:39

There was a thread on here a few weeks ago and I think someone also suggested that it may not necessarily relate to the old white letters on black background but the fact that our number plates are square (not rectangular) with two lines of data.

Stuartarthur · **Reply #7 -** Sep 12, 2022 - 22:39

Quote from: scimart on Sep 12, 2022 - 10:54

If it is registered then there’s no intent to evade the charges but not registering would probably mean that you should go through a manual payment channel - failure to do so might then be some sort of offence.

Sent from my iPhone using LRSOC

That is my thinking also. Im not attempting to evade paying, in fact we pay in advance into the account. If their system cannot cope with this issue its hardly my responsibility.
They are quick enough to now charge you circa £113 minimum for breaking down in the tunnel. Previously they'd give you a push or a tow out to the other end for nowt.
Presently Blue badge holders with no online account are able to stop in the inspection lane and get exemption. This facility will not continue indefinitely. You will need to set up an account and register for exemption.

Stuartarthur · **Reply #8 -** Sep 12, 2022 - 22:46

Quote from: vince carr on Sep 12, 2022 - 21:39

There was a thread on here a few weeks ago and I think someone also suggested that it may not necessarily relate to the old white letters on black background but the fact that our number plates are square (not rectangular) with two lines of data.

Vince,
not sure if they use front and or rear number plate cameras, but there are a number of cars now using square rear plates. Taxis seem to be a large user of this type as they can add their taxi plate to one side.
Stu

vince carr · **Reply #9 -** Sep 13, 2022 - 00:29

Stu,
Your Landrover was parked next to mine at Hunton on Saturday but I couldn't find you.

Sent from my Nokia G10 using LRSOC mobile app

Stuartarthur · **Reply #10 -** Sep 13, 2022 - 20:24

Quote from: vince carr on Sep 13, 2022 - 00:29

Stu,
Your Landrover was parked next to mine at Hunton on Saturday but I couldn't find you.

Sent from my Nokia G10 using LRSOC mobile app

Evening Vince, have sent a PM ( I think) did you receive ?
Stu

Stuartarthur · **Reply #11 -** Sep 13, 2022 - 23:04

Quote from: scimart on Sep 12, 2022 - 10:54

If it is registered then there’s no intent to evade the charges but not registering would probably mean that you should go through a manual payment channel - failure to do so might then be some sort of offence.

Sent from my iPhone using LRSOC

Hopefully to give some more clarity on this issue.
In addition to a prepaid account, the Tyne Tunnel people also operate similarly to the Dublin motorway charges.
If you are not, and possibly do not wish to be registered and pay into an account which is debited for each journey, then you have a specified period after your journey, in which to make payment. I think it is up to midnight the following day.
Charges for non payment of your £1:90 can rise to £100, dependent on how long the delay in payment.
Stu

landie57 · **Reply #12 -** Sep 15, 2022 - 08:00

I have had a similar issue with the ANPR system in the Southgate car park in the centre of Bath. Pay on exit and it kept telling me I had entered my registration number incorrectly!!!

vidal · **Reply #13 -** Sep 27, 2022 - 10:19

Besides the ones in Britain not picking up old style plates, this also seems to work across Europe. We have been flashed in a many different countries over the years on our travels. We even parked right next to the Leaning Tower of Pisa in a very heavily restricted area with many cameras and have never heard anything back. Which is nice.

edwardatherton · **Reply #14 -** Sep 27, 2022 - 12:06

The camera at our local tip doesn't show the reg on the screen for my S1, and also found the same in a Euro Car Park near work - trying to pay is really difficult as it doesn't appear in the list of reg that it sees coming in. If I drive, I just pay the minimum amount!
Same thing happened on a toll bridge/road somewhere towards Liverpool a few years ago - I rang and paid for the VW, but my S1 didn't show on the system. The operator clearly couldn't find it in the list but wouldn't admit to that, just said she would have to do a manual payment.