The M50 Barrier Free Tolling Thread

luckat · 17-08-2008 12:57pm

I can't see any way to register my number plate on the NTR website. You can apply for a tag (and the privilege of 'renting' it, rather than buying it as a once-off), but where do you register your licence number?

Still a ripoff - where's Consumer Affairs in this?

cormie · 17-08-2008 12:58pm

Still don't know what the best of a bad bunch of deals is for me either. It's not very clear

luckat · 17-08-2008 1:06pm

Best bunch is not to use the motorway until the prices are sorted out; I'm also thinking of moving from Irish Broadband, since it's run by the same people.

penexpers · 17-08-2008 3:07pm

luckat wrote: »

Best bunch is not to use the motorway until the prices are sorted out; I'm also thinking of moving from Irish Broadband, since it's run by the same people.

No it's not.

ART6 · 17-08-2008 3:20pm

luckat wrote: »

How many vehicles go through the barriers in a month? Not journeys, now, but individual vehicles, whose owners would each be paying this €12 per year fee? .

According to my sunday paper 90,000 vehicles a day use the bridge. Many of them will be commercials paying much higher tolls, but even if all were cars paying €2, that would amount to €180,000 a day or €65,700,000 a year assuming the same number every day. OK, so the traffic flow won't be the same every day for 365 days, but then the tolls won't all be €2. So the €65 m must be a low estimate and could end up being double that figure. For a bridge that cost €38 m 17 years ago and was earning similar incomes for all of that time, and then got bought with our money to the tune of €600 m, that bridge has and continues to be a nice earner for someone. Rip off Ireland at it's best -- and now it's the government that is part of the rip off.

luckat · 17-08-2008 5:19pm

Oh, sorry, thought NTR owned Irish Broadband - that's good for me, then, because I like Irish Broadband!

In relation to the prices, what I'm wondering is where this 'administration fee' for the tags came from - how on earth was it agreed to?

Surely there is *less* administration with electronic tagging!

dmca77 · 17-08-2008 7:58pm

I went for the easy pass route.
I work in the motor industry and could have five different vehicles home that week.
Easy pass assure me that I can change my reg number by phone or my internet access.
I have tried this to date and it is possible.

As for the charges I think its a disgrace that the people from I reland has to pass this.
Two months ago I went through the easpass lane on the M50 in my mothers car (northern ireland reg) and my mum is still waiting for the charge. People I cant see this ever changing!!!!!

D

Terrlock · 18-08-2008 10:40am

Is there anything that we can do about this ridiculous system and is being forced on us.

I don't know anyone who is for it. The government must be drugging our water supply to make us so accepting of taking all the crap they give us.

Toll charges go up so much every year and its going too get worse with this new system.

Can we all just get together and start standing up too these crowd off scammers.

L1011 · 18-08-2008 10:52am

luckat wrote: »

Oh, sorry, thought NTR owned Irish Broadband - that's good for me, then, because I like Irish Broadband!

They did - its now owned by Imagine.

LEIN · 18-08-2008 8:53pm

Have eazy pass my self and they charge €1:27 a month.

Got an email a month ago or so telling me i dont need to change tag company.

voxpop · 18-08-2008 9:03pm

Found TollTag.ie - they do a pay as you go tag. No monthly fee, but they charge 10% on top of your toll, so the m50 toll would be 2.20 each way. I only use the bridge maybe once or twice a month so seriously considering these guys. That 1 euro managment fee is bollox.

luckat · 19-08-2008 6:17pm

But you have to buy that tag for <ouch> €30.

LEIN · 19-08-2008 6:28pm

luckat wrote: »

But you have to buy that tag for <ouch> €30.

As far as i can remember i didnt have to pay for the eazy pass tag.

That might have changed by now though.

baldbear · 20-08-2008 2:46pm

"The NRA says that the transition will not be as smooth as people might expect.
It has also revealed that it is going to take more than two months to dismantle the existing toll plaza and that this will have an impact on traffic.

There is just ten days to go before barrier free tolling begins on the M50 on Saturday 30 August.
Today, the NRA has said there will be difficulties with the transition and that motorists will find the system difficult because of a lack of familiarity.
It also says the system is likely to read some number plates incorrectly and that it will not read some tags because they are mounted incorrectly in vehicles.
The NRA says that some of the improvements from barrier-free tolling will be visible after the toll plaza is removed, but that the full benefits will only be seen when the M50 upgrade in completed in 2010.
It says there will be some improvement to southbound traffic but that substantial queuing will continue for the northbound direction because of the ongoing upgrading works.
The authority has appealed for people to be patient and tolerant during the start up phase."

siralfalot · 20-08-2008 2:46pm

hmmmm... where do I order one of these??!

:D

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zJEe6M9PdqY

jgally · 20-08-2008 3:15pm

I'm either paying toll charges or for Moter tax - NOT BOTH :mad:

L1011 · 20-08-2008 3:48pm

jgally wrote: »

I'm either paying toll charges or for Moter tax - NOT BOTH :mad:

So, presumably, you never used the Westlink before? Just don't use it still.

mik_da_man · 20-08-2008 4:03pm

From RTE today - No big suprise really but they admit that full benefits will only be seen when the M50 upgrade is completed in 2010!!!

The National Roads Authority admits there will be teething problems with the new barrier-free tolling system on Dublin's M50.

The NRA says that the transition will not be as smooth as people might expect.

It has also revealed that it is going to take more than two months to dismantle the existing toll plaza and that this will have an impact on traffic.

AdvertisementThere is just ten days to go before barrier free tolling begins on the M50 on Saturday 30 August.

Today, the NRA has said there will be difficulties with the transition and that motorists will find the system difficult because of a lack of familiarity.

It also says the system is likely to read some number plates incorrectly and that it will not read some tags because they are mounted incorrectly in vehicles.

The NRA says that some of the improvements from barrier-free tolling will be visible after the toll plaza is removed, but that the full benefits will only be seen when the M50 upgrade in completed in 2010.

It says there will be some improvement to southbound traffic but that substantial queuing will continue for the northbound direction because of the ongoing upgrading works.

The authority has appealed for people to be patient and tolerant during the start up phase.

Mik

TwoShedsJackson · 20-08-2008 4:09pm

It's common sense that it'll be worse in the short-term while they demolish the toll plaza. And sure 2010 is only 16 months away now

unkel · 20-08-2008 4:24pm

Merged mik_da_man's separate thread into the sticky

mik_da_man · 20-08-2008 5:05pm

Cheers.

tweaf · 20-08-2008 5:18pm

In addition, the tags can't be read through certain vehicles' windsreens, for example cars with heated front screens.

Don't be surprised it the NRA have to retain the cash option, we should be given a choice!

mik_da_man · 20-08-2008 9:34pm

Well that's not true.
I have a heated windscreen in mione and the tag works fine.
There is a special section on the screen to put the tag.
I'm more worried about the cameras not reading the plates correctly.
There is a hefty fine for plates not matching tags

Capri · 20-08-2008 9:57pm

I know Mercs and Renault Lagunas being sold in Singapore had to have their UV windscreens changed because their tags couldn't be read - gas if the NRA didn't learn from Singapore:P

And with the amount of rain combined with construction trucks dumping muck on the roads, those no. plates will get dirty very quickly these days :P:P

gsxr1 · 20-08-2008 11:34pm

i use the M50 about 12 times a year.

what should I do? or will I receive a bill in the door. Can I still stop and pay.

9 pages to read through. dont really want to

L1011 · 20-08-2008 11:40pm

gsxr1 wrote: »

i use the M50 about 12 times a year.

what should I do? or will I receive a bill in the door. Can I still stop and pay.

9 pages to read through. dont really want to

You'll receive a bill for 6 euro through the door if you don't do anything. You cannot stop and pay at the bridge; but you can go in to a few thousand different retail outlets (shops, petrol stations) and pay 3 euro.

'video registration' on eflow.ie would bring that down to 2.50 but you need a payment card of some kind (I think its either specifically CC or Laser but can't remember which!).

gsxr1 · 20-08-2008 11:55pm

MYOB wrote: »

You'll receive a bill for 6 euro through the door if you don't do anything. You cannot stop and pay at the bridge; but you can go in to a few thousand different retail outlets (shops, petrol stations) and pay 3 euro.

'video registration' on eflow.ie would bring that down to 2.50 but you need a payment card of some kind (I think its either specifically CC or Laser but can't remember which!).

I drive a van .

So I would be better to register . not receive the tag and just get a laser debit each time.

does that sound right?

fletch · 21-08-2008 9:16am

gsxr1 wrote: »

i use the M50 about 12 times a year.

what should I do? or will I receive a bill in the door. Can I still stop and pay.

9 pages to read through. dont really want to

I would go for the tag from tolltag.ie and it'll cost you €2.20 each time. Video registration will cost €2.50 a pop.

voxpop · 21-08-2008 9:21am

luckat wrote: »

But you have to buy that tag for <ouch> €30.

Yeah thte 30quid up front is a bit steep - I went with their second option, which is an initial 40quid of credit and the account must always have 12quid in it - they auto-topup to 20 when it reaches 12. Think its the best of a bad bunch - I use the bridge maybe twice a month.

oclugg · 21-08-2008 1:41pm

Remember that old scam/urban myth about spraying you reg plates with hair lacquer to stop speed camera from reading your reg? I can't wait for the new batch of reg cloaking ideas for this saga.

Saruman · 21-08-2008 2:34pm

oclugg wrote: »

Remember that old scam/urban myth about spraying you reg plates with hair lacquer to stop speed camera from reading your reg? I can't wait for the new batch of reg cloaking ideas for this saga.

Some sort of Automatic registration blocker device you can activate on approach. With an image of a hand giving the finger of course instead of the number plate

Firewalkwithme · 21-08-2008 8:38pm

siralfalot wrote: »

hmmmm... where do I order one of these??! :D

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zJEe6M9PdqY

I think this is what you are looking for. Should pay for itself in no time

http://www.toys4cars.co.uk/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=5718&products_id=36244&zenid=33124e62b576a9bf6bec6cc699d0deb4

cormie · 21-08-2008 10:44pm

Does anyone know what the consequences of being caught using one of them would be? If it is just a fine, it could be well worth it

What section of what act would it fall under I wonder?

championc · 22-08-2008 4:29pm

dubwex wrote: »

If the cameras cant recognise your reg plates then you wont be billed.
Check out the product photo blocker, this may be an irish solution to an irish problem.

Not being a regular user, I used the M50 last week one evening and was looking out for the cameras and stuff. From what I saw, the kit was located all on a single gantry between the Toll and Blanch exit. There was a whole line of black boxes which I assume are for reading the Tags but above were three cameras facing towards you.

I couldn't help but think that if you never registered and were driving behind an Artic, the cameras wouldn't have a hope in hell of spotting your reg. I never saw any cameras to catch the rere plates ........

Our man in Havana · 22-08-2008 4:50pm

I couldn't help but think that if you never registered and were driving behind an Artic, the cameras wouldn't have a hope in hell of spotting your reg. I never saw any cameras to catch the rere plates ........

That will become the new scam.

I bet they will install rear facing cameras in short order if the scam develops legs.

markpb · 22-08-2008 5:06pm

Bond-007 wrote: »

I bet they will install rear facing cameras in short order if the
scam develops legs.

Road-cams.... embedded in the tarmac!

championc · 22-08-2008 5:33pm

They couldn't do that - they'd have to close the road for 6 months for the roadworks for installation !!!

narommy · 22-08-2008 5:35pm

Please see attached link

http://www.tagcompare.ie/t_and_c_account_charges.html

to me the "direct Route" seems good value 25 to get set up (15deposit(is this refundable) and 10 upfront (5*€2)) and €1 maintenance. But they don't do DD

Am i missing something?Do some of the other operators offset management charge against the tolls. i.e. if you use the toll you don't get charged the monthly fee? (I doubt it)

Tolltag lease seems good too €20 to get going and €1.21 monthly

See also
http://www.tagcompare.ie/payment_options.html

L1011 · 22-08-2008 6:29pm

None of them do the offset you're suggesting there.

EI787 · 22-08-2008 9:03pm

narommy wrote: »

to me the "direct Route" seems good value 25 to get set up (15deposit(is this refundable) and 10 upfront (5*€2)) and €1 maintenance. But they don't do DD

Yes, the €15 deposit plus any credit remaining on your account is refunded to you when you close the account (according to the website).

I chose this company too. I like how the minimum top up isn't as large as other companies - better for the less frequent user such as myself.

Run_to_da_hills · 22-08-2008 11:19pm

Bond-007 wrote: »

That will become the new scam.

I bet they will install rear facing cameras in short order if the scam develops legs.

As far as I know most electronic toll roads use rear facing cams.

crosstownk · 22-08-2008 11:34pm

I just attempted to sign up to eFlow, but the registration section (new eflow site) doesn't support Safari!

Not sure if this has been mentioned before.

unkel · 22-08-2008 11:50pm

crosstownk wrote: »

I just attempted to sign up to eFlow, but the registration section (new eflow site) doesn't support Safari!

Get a real computer and use Opera

Oh wait, it doesn't support Opera either

crosstownk · 22-08-2008 11:55pm

And I can't use a credit card for a tag account.......

Welcome to the stone age.

Muppets.

Max_Damage · 22-08-2008 11:59pm

Run_to_da_hills wrote: »

As far as I know most electronic toll roads use rear facing cams.

Then just do the opposite, drive in front of a truck. Closely.

cormie · 23-08-2008 12:08am

I doubt that's going to work? What about areas like London congestion zone, I'm sure they invested in technology to combat that, think of all the dosh they'd be missing out on in bumper to bumper traffic if the cameras couldn't read the plates.

Seth Brundle · 23-08-2008 1:02am

unkel wrote: »

Get a real computer and use Opera

Oh wait, it doesn't support Opera either

Frustrating old eflow site updated for users

So

unkel · 23-08-2008 1:22am

kbannon wrote: »

Frustrating old eflow site updated for users

So

Still not working for Opera though

Run_to_da_hills · 23-08-2008 7:00am

Max_Damage wrote: »

Then just do the opposite, drive in front of a truck. Closely.

Penalty points for tailgaiting has become an offence for a reason, Which would be worse, dodging a 3 euro fee or a e60 fine with points. You can guarantee this will all be on record with cops waiting to pounce at the nearest Garda ramp. It wouldn't surprise me if they had cameras pointing sideways to catch whose driving,

championc · 23-08-2008 9:49am

An offence has to be proven and they ain't going to be able to read number plates from the side if you're tailgating.

I assume many have seen the camera gantry but has anyone seen cameras for the rere ? You can certainly get a good look at Northbound if you're travelling South and visa versa so they should be easily visable

The M50 Barrier Free Tolling Thread

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