What does the ETC toll photo on the highway mean?

[GemmaLee]

Highway ETC toll photo refers to the use of gantries to divide the highway into several sections. Gantries are devices installed on highways to calculate toll amounts, and they are placed at certain intervals. Each time a vehicle passes under a gantry, the cameras mounted on it will take photos and calculate the toll based on the vehicle type, and the corresponding toll fee will be deducted from the vehicle's ETC. ETC stands for Electronic Toll Collection, a system that is being actively developed and promoted internationally for electronic tolling, mainly used for the management of bridges, tunnels, highways, and parking lots. When a vehicle passes through a toll station, there is no need to stop; the system automatically identifies the vehicle via onboard equipment and deducts the corresponding fee from the pre-linked bank account or IC card. By using this system, drivers only need to install a transponder card on their windshield and pre-load a certain amount of money. When passing through a toll station, there is no need for manual payment or stopping, as the toll is automatically deducted from the card.

[VonLaila]

Those ETC toll cameras on highways refer to cameras installed at toll stations that flash and take a photo when a vehicle passes by. They mainly work in conjunction with the electronic toll collection system. If your car is equipped with an ETC tag, it automatically senses and deducts the toll, while the photo serves as a backup. In case the tag malfunctions or the signal is weak, the system captures the license plate to record vehicle information for backend verification. This helps prevent toll evasion or incorrect charges. Moreover, with increasingly intelligent road networks, these cameras also assist in managing traffic flow, such as quickly resolving issues during congestion. Personally, I find it quite convenient—no need to stop and queue—but it's important to ensure your ETC device is properly installed; otherwise, you might receive a payment reminder after being photographed. Overall, this system enhances efficiency and safety.

[MacRichard]

The toll cameras on highways capture images of vehicles as they pass through the toll station for evidence collection. They work in conjunction with ETC tags for automatic toll identification. If a tag fails, such as due to poor contact, the captured images assist in manual toll calculation. The principle is based on license plate recognition technology, comparing the data with the database to confirm information. This method reduces manual intervention, making toll collection more accurate and faster. Currently, most highways are equipped with this system, which has minimal impact on daily driving and instead avoids the slow process of cash payments. It is important to keep the windshield clean and unobstructed to avoid affecting the photo quality, which could lead to misjudgments and subsequent hassle in processing.

[ReedLee]

Simply put, the high-speed ETC toll photo is taken by the toll station camera when a vehicle passes. Its purpose is to compare the license plate with ETC data for automatic toll collection. If the vehicle does not have an ETC tag installed or there is a signal failure, the captured photos provide evidence for subsequent manual toll processing. This enhances toll fairness and prevents fee evasion. If it's your first time on the highway, you might wonder what the flashing light is—it's actually part of this mechanism.