What to Do When Your ETC Is Used by the Car in Front

[McDamian]

Solutions when your ETC is used by the car in front: 1. If your ETC is scanned by another car when entering the highway and the barrier doesn't lift even after reversing and trying again, you can go through the manual lane by swiping your ETC card—the new record will overwrite the previous one. 2. If your ETC is scanned when exiting the highway, you won't be overcharged. Simply contact the toll booth staff and use the manual lane. The vehicle that evaded the toll will be identified via surveillance and penalized accordingly. 3. Vehicles that illegally evade tolls will be blacklisted and barred from using highways nationwide. At the exit, they will be treated as having no card and required to pay the maximum toll for the longest distance on the route. For vehicles that evade tolls by scanning another's ETC at the highway exit, their actions are recorded in the system, and they will face penalties the next time they use the highway.

[DiOscar]

I once encountered a situation at a highway toll station where the vehicle in front of me 'stole' my ETC pass, mainly because I was following too closely, and the signal interference prevented my device from being recognized. I was quite anxious at the time, but I knew panicking wouldn't help, so I decisively stopped my vehicle and switched to manual payment to pass through the lane, avoiding traffic congestion. Afterward, I checked my ETC tag and found that the battery was low. I immediately went to a service center to replace the battery and test the device. Here’s my advice if you encounter a similar issue: First, ensure safe operation—never slam on the brakes abruptly, which could cause an accident. Stay calm, proceed with manual payment, and then contact ETC customer service to verify the transaction record to avoid incorrect charges. For prevention, perform regular maintenance on your device, such as checking the battery and tag placement every quarter. When driving, maintain a distance of at least 10 meters from the vehicle in front, especially when approaching an ETC lane—slow down and confirm the green light is on before proceeding. These small details can significantly reduce malfunctions. With more experience, I’ve come to see this as just a minor hiccup in daily driving.

[OAlexander]

From a technical perspective, the ETC system operates via RFID signals. Excessive proximity between vehicles or device malfunctions may result in your transaction being intercepted by the preceding vehicle. Once at an entrance lane, my ETC failed to respond as the car ahead was passing through, and I immediately recognized it as signal overlap. I manually paid the toll to avoid delays, then verified the deduction log via the mobile app to ensure accuracy. Upon inspection, I found the OBU tag was misaligned – repositioning it restored normal function. Recommendations: Always ensure the tag is unobstructed on the windshield; free functionality tests can be conducted at highway service points. Preventive measures include maintaining moderate speed and keeping interference-prone items away from the tag; address issues promptly to avoid penalties. This incident underscored how attention to detail ensures smoother driving experiences.

[CarmenLee]

Safe driving should always be the top priority. When the ETC is triggered by the vehicle in front, don't panic or rush to follow, as this can easily lead to a rear-end collision. I pulled over safely, manually took the card to pay the toll, and ensured smooth traffic flow around me. After checking the equipment, I left; the real danger lies in hasty operations. I often remind myself to handle such minor malfunctions at toll booths with patience, not letting small issues escalate into major accidents. Regularly checking the ETC status helps avoid similar disruptions to the journey.