Can the ETC card be removed during highway driving?
3 Answers
ETC card can be removed during highway driving, and it is no problem to reinsert it when needed. When not using the highway, you can choose whether to keep it inserted or not based on personal preference. It is also acceptable to insert the card when entering the highway and remove it after returning. However, frequent insertion and removal of the ETC card may easily damage the device and chip. ETC is an electronic toll collection system that enables automatic toll collection on highways or bridges. It uses dedicated short-range communication between the onboard electronic tag installed on the vehicle's windshield and the microwave antenna in the ETC lane at the toll station. Through computer networking technology, it processes background settlements with the bank, allowing vehicles to pass through highway or bridge toll stations without stopping to pay fees.
I've been driving for over a decade and have encountered ETC card issues several times. Once on the highway, the card couldn't be read, and I impulsively thought about pulling it out to check. Fortunately, an experienced driver friend promptly reminded me that removing the card on the highway is particularly dangerous. The ETC system relies on the card's real-time signal when passing through toll stations; removing it could interrupt the toll collection, and the system might judge it as fare evasion, resulting in fines of hundreds of yuan. Worse still, if an accident occurs on the highway, diverting attention to fiddle with the card increases the risk. So, I recommend not dealing with it mid-journey if there's really a problem; either drive to a service area to park and check or simply exit the highway before handling the card. Remember, safety first—the ETC is designed to be automatic, so don't interfere with it unnecessarily. Make it a habit to only operate devices when the car is stationary; it's both worry-free and safe.
From a technical perspective, ETC operates through the coordination of the onboard unit and the card. Removing the card during highway travel interrupts signal transmission, preventing the toll station from completing the deduction process. I've dealt with similar issues where many drivers, out of curiosity or due to card malfunctions, removed their cards, resulting in abnormal system records. This often leads to requests for additional payments or fines during their next passage; in severe cases, it can even damage the card slot circuitry. In fact, when the card is properly inserted, the device can optimize road condition detection and toll collection processes. I always remind myself not to tamper with any onboard equipment, including the ETC card, while driving—it's safer to check things at a service area or roadside stop. If the card is genuinely faulty, temporarily using a mobile app to scan and pay can serve as an alternative, but this should only be an emergency measure, not an excuse to remove the card.
