What to Do When ETC Shows Illegal Removal?
2 Answers
The solution when ETC shows illegal removal is to reinstall and reactivate it at an ETC customer service center or service outlet. ETC Working Principle: Through the dedicated short-range communication between the onboard electronic tag installed on the vehicle's windshield and the microwave antenna in the ETC lane of the toll station, computer networking technology is used to process background settlements with the bank. This allows vehicles to pass through highway or bridge toll stations without stopping while paying the tolls. ETC Usage Notes: The ETC transaction sensing range is 8 meters. When encountering a vehicle ahead that has stopped, to prevent the vehicle ahead from having a faulty ETC device or no ETC device at all, maintain a distance of more than 10 meters to avoid automatic sensing and paying for the vehicle ahead. Unauthorized removal or movement of the OBU device, or detachment or loosening of the ETC electronic tag, will cause the electronic tag to fail. It can be sent to the bank where the ETC card was issued or the highway service office for inspection. If the detachment or loosening is not due to human factors, simply reactivating it will suffice. When using a debit card linked to ETC, insufficient balance may also cause the fee deduction to fail. Follow the guidance of on-site staff to use the manual MTC lane and pass by paying with cash or card.
Back when I frequently drove on highways, the ETC showing "illegal removal" really worried me—usually it's because the OBU device got moved or something. The first time this happened, I pulled over in a safe area, first checked if the device was loose, wiped the windshield area clean with a cloth to ensure a firm reattachment, and if that didn’t work, reinstalled it. Then I called the ETC customer service, explained the situation, and provided my license plate number—they can check the status on their end and might require a reactivation at a service point. The whole process took me half a day to resolve. A mechanic later told me the anti-tamper label might have been damaged and needed replacement. I suggest everyone avoid randomly removing the device—it’s factory-sealed to prevent theft. If the display shows an issue on the highway, pull over immediately, turn on hazard lights, and check thoroughly—safety first. During regular maintenance, ask workers to check the ETC’s stability—it saves a lot of hassle.
