I drove through castleknock toll by mistake

BaRcOe

Hi,

2 weeks after passing my test I bought a car out in Palmerstown. I was going back to get my car serviced, took a wrong exit and ended up going through Castleknock m50 barrier free toll. As an 'N' driver, I had never been around these parts so was completely unaware of this toll. Now I have to pay almost €46 each way because I didn't pay it. I never got a letter about it or anything. The way I found out was from a different incident at the Kildare toll. I got the fares mixed up and was 10 cent short each way.

Is there any leniency for new drivers? I had passed my test only two weeks before the incident at Casteknock toll.

Also, I was never notified in the first place. The penalty would have gone up to €100 each way without even knowing! Why didn't they let me know!

Thanks!

ted1

As a N driver you should have learnt to be aware of your sorroundings. There’s big signs telling you to pay the toll.

Is the car registered to you at your current address?

Reati

BaRcOe wrote: »

Hi,

Is there any leniency for new drivers? I had passed my test only two weeks before the incident at Casteknock toll.

Also, I was never notified in the first place. The penalty would have gone up to €100 each way without even knowing! Why didn't they let me know!

Thanks!

No. There isn't and yes you were. The giant signs all along that road that say pay the toll, toll road, pay by 8pm the next day etc. Them giant purple signs are pretty hard to miss.

amcalester

You must have seen the big signs, no?

Ring them and they’ll probably knock off some of the fees.

RayCun

You went through the M50 toll without seeing any of the giant signs telling you about the toll and how to pay it?

I thought you had to get your eyes checked as part of the license application?

punisher5112

Ring them up.

They tend to be understanding if you are genuine.

Explain never received letter and honestly forgot all about paying.

They tend to waive 1st timers

Flatwhite

Not very observant are you.

ozt9vdujny3srf

6 replies. 5 repeats of telling the OP to be more observant, 3 actually trying to help. Nice.

OP - first time I forgot to pay my m50 toll they waived the penalty when i called them.

ED E

If you can't see the big signs maybe the optician f'cked up before you got your L's.

alias no.9

Ring them up, explain what happened and sign up for an account, (tag or video) and they'll most likely waive the penalty.

Fighting Tao

That’s just one of the signs you missed.

Call them to pay and hope they give you something off the extra fine.

wonski

Ring them, make sure to inform them you just bought the car and tell them you are ready to sign up for free video account when asked.

You should be fine, especially when new transfer of ownership is mentioned

BaRcOe

First of all as an N driver, this was my first time out this direction. Whilst I was learning as an L I wasn't allowed on the motorway. I was genuinely nervous because I didn't know the roads and it was my second time on the motorway. Especially after missing the turn to get to Palmerstown, I didn't want to end up on the m50!

People who are saying "DID YOU NOT SEE THE SIGNS?". I was concentrating on my lanes whilst my girlfriend kept an eye on the phone with google maps directing us. She doesn't drive so she definitely had no idea about the toll. I do recall seeing m50 toll sign, but thought it was a pre warning for an upcoming toll. I was keeping an eye on my road position / lane so that I wouldn't miss my exit. If I started to read all the signs I would have missed my exit.

Also, did none of you hear the fact that I only passed my test TWO weeks before this. And had only owned the car for SIX DAYS. I have clear evidence of all of this.

Reati

Angela Unimportant Hamster wrote: »

6 replies. 5 repeats of telling the OP to be more observant, 2 actually trying to help. Nice.

OP - first time I forgot to pay my m50 toll they waived the penalty when i called them.

I didn't realise there was a mammy clause in the t&cs for boards that we have to baby everyone. Common sense says ring them and say you forgot and see what you can get off.

Creating a thread about how one just passed the driving test then was completely oblivious to the massive toll road signage on the busiest stretch of road in the country rightly deserves to called out for being unobservant.

BaRcOe

Angela Unimportant Hamster wrote: »

6 replies. 5 repeats of telling the OP to be more observant, 3 actually trying to help. Nice.

OP - first time I forgot to pay my m50 toll they waived the penalty when i called them.

I have reported majority of those ***...s.

Reati wrote: »

I didn't realise there was a mammy clause in the t&cs for boards that we have to baby everyone. Common sense says ring them and say you forgot and see what you can get off.

Creating a thread about how one just passed the driving test then was completely oblivious to the massive toll road signage on the busiest stretch of road in the country rightly deserves to called out for being unobservant.

I just wanted an opinion and I got some helpful info.

BaRcOe

ted1 wrote: »

As a N driver you should have learnt to be aware of your sorroundings. There’s big signs telling you to pay the toll.

Is the car registered to you at your current address?

Yes it is. They should have let me know about the incident straight away. God knows how much the fine would have went up to if I didn't end up earning myself a different fine which actually included a letter!

Reati

BaRcOe wrote: »

I have reported majority of those ***...s.



I just wanted an opinion and I got some helpful info.

You reported posts for telling you to pay more attention on the busiest road network in the country? Grown up.

You got opinions but you don't like most of them. It's a running theme on boards the people come on, ask a question and don't like the answers and start referring to posters with insults like ***...s.

listermint

BaRcOe wrote: »

Yes it is. They should have let me know about the incident straight away. God knows how much the fine would have went up to if I didn't end up earning myself a different fine which actually included a letter!

You shouldn't be in the roads pal,. There is no way someone should be out there if they can't navigate the signage it contains important information including hazards. Yet you were concentrating on just your lanes....
.

RayCun

BaRcOe wrote: »

Yes it is. They should have let me know about the incident straight away. God knows how much the fine would have went up to if I didn't end up earning myself a different fine which actually included a letter!

Maybe they could have erected a fifty foot purple sign outside your house to let you know

BaRcOe

Reati wrote: »

You reported posts for telling you to pay more attention on the busiest road network in the country? Grown up.

You got opinions but you don't like most of them. It's a running theme on boards the people come on, ask a question and don't like the answers and start referring to posters with insults like ***...s.

But people completely ignored the fact that I had never been on these roads before, the fact that I was a new driver and had the car just 6 days.

Stating the obvious like "open your eyes" just sounds like my Mom. I didn't come on here to get a Mom response. I was looking for somebody who can relate as a new driver on motorways.

Also as an L driver I wasn't allowed on Motorways, so its all new to me. During the heat of the moment, I was keeping an eye on my lanes and concentrating at switching lanes, and listening to google maps directions.

BaRcOe

RayCun wrote: »

Maybe they could have erected a fifty foot purple sign outside your house to let you know

Or sent a simple letter to my house saying, "you drove through Castleknock toll twice within 10 minutes and you should pay your toll".

I was completely unaware.

Del2005

BaRcOe wrote: »

First of all as an N driver, this was my first time out this direction. Whilst I was learning as an L I wasn't allowed on the motorway. I was genuinely nervous because I didn't know the roads and it was my second time on the motorway. Especially after missing the turn to get to Palmerstown, I didn't want to end up on the m50!

People who are saying "DID YOU NOT SEE THE SIGNS?". I was concentrating on my lanes whilst my girlfriend kept an eye on the phone with google maps directing us. She doesn't drive so she definitely had no idea about the toll. I do recall seeing m50 toll sign, but thought it was a pre warning for an upcoming toll. I was keeping an eye on my road position / lane so that I wouldn't miss my exit. If I started to read all the signs I would have missed my exit.

Also, did none of you hear the fact that I only passed my test TWO weeks before this. And had only owned the car for SIX DAYS. I have clear evidence of all of this.

If you can't read a motorway sign when driving you need to reconsider your driving. The signs are designed to be read at 130km/h, the speed limit on proper motorways, so at 100km/h there is no issues with reading them. The overhead gantries also provide information on the road and traffic conditions so you should be looking at them.

If you're girl friend was looking at Google maps
why would you miss your exit? And more importantly it'll reroute you so in Ireland missing a junction isn't a major issue.

Fighting Tao

BaRcOe wrote: »

Now I have to pay almost €46 each way because I didn't pay it. I never got a letter about it or anything. The way I found out was from a different incident at the Kildare toll.
!

Just on not being told. There are signs for the toll before you take the exit onto the m50. If I recall correctly it’s also painted on the ground. There are big signs on the lead up to the bridge. There are also signs that are as big as trucks on the gantry and the signs after the toll to tell you to pay by 8pm the following day. It can not be claimed that they don’t notify motorists.

Reati

BaRcOe wrote: »

But people completely ignored the fact that I had never been on these roads before, the fact that I was a new driver and had the car just 6 days.

Honesty I'm not sure why in your head you think this justifies anything. I've drove all over the world and had never been on those roads before yet I never got toll fines or tickets. Those were all rentals so in most cases I only had the car a few hours.

As a safe and competent driver you should be able to drive any road and be aware of the signage and surroundings. Rhetoricial question but Do you only drive on the roads you know?

Bubbaclaus

If you can't read road signage due to the need to "concentrate on your lanes" then you shouldn't really be allowed on the roads. Some of those signs might actually have some pretty important stuff on them!

BaRcOe

Fighting Tao wrote: »

Just on not being told. There are signs for the toll before you take the exit onto the m50. If I recall correctly it’s also painted on the ground. There are big signs on the lead up to the bridge. There are also signs that are as big as trucks on the gantry and the signs after the toll to tell you to pay by 8pm the following day. It can not be claimed that they don’t notify motorists.

And they didn't notify me of my fine because? There's no reason they shouldn't have sent me a letter saying I owe them €46. It goes up to €103 each way in two weeks. Still I wouldn't have known. No letter. No call. Nothing.

RayCun

Get someone to give you a lift through the toll, from two junctions before to two junctions after, and count how many signs there are telling you of an approaching toll, the toll as you go through it, and how to pay the charge you just incurred by going through a toll, and then you will realise why you are being met with so little sympathy.

Reati

BaRcOe wrote: »

And they didn't notify me of my fine because? There's no reason they shouldn't have sent me a letter saying I owe them €46. It goes up to €103 each way in two weeks. Still I wouldn't have known. No letter. No call. Nothing.

They are not your mammy. They have no obligation to notify you. The giant signs notified you of the toll. You forgot(actually you claim not to have known). Not their problem.

Fighting Tao

BaRcOe wrote: »

And they didn't notify me of my fine because? There's no reason they shouldn't have sent me a letter saying I owe them €46. It goes up to €103 each way in two weeks. Still I wouldn't have known. No letter. No call. Nothing.

Seriously. You need some self responsibility. You drove the road twice and missed every single sign. Probably at least 20 signs in total.

BaRcOe

Reati wrote: »

They are not your mammy. They have no obligation to notify you. The giant signs notified you of the toll. You forgot. Not their problem.

So am I the first person in the whole wide world to have made this mistake?

Sleeper12

BaRcOe wrote:

Also, I was never notified in the first place. The penalty would have gone up to €100 each way without even knowing! Why didn't they let me know!

There is a way around this fee.

First thing is to phone them and explain everything. They will either have pity or they won't. If they still want full payment ask about registering for a video tag. "usually" they will wave the fines if you set up an account with them. You'll be on their system then & they like this. A video tag is free & it reduces the toll by 50c per crossing. With the video tag you will only ever pay for each use. No standing charge or anything like that.

Good luck & please let us know how you got on

Reati

BaRcOe wrote: »

So am I the first person in the whole wide world to have made this mistake?

Nope and I hazard a guess they didn't get letters either till the fine was pretty large.

ted1

BaRcOe wrote: »

Reati wrote: »

You reported posts for telling you to pay more attention on the busiest road network in the country? Grown up.

You got opinions but you don't like most of them. It's a running theme on boards the people come on, ask a question and don't like the answers and start referring to posters with insults like ***...s.

But people completely ignored the fact that I had never been on these roads before, the fact that I was a new driver and had the car just 6 days.

Stating the obvious like "open your eyes" just sounds like my Mom. I didn't come on here to get a Mom response. I was looking for somebody who can relate as a new driver on motorways.

Also as an L driver I wasn't allowed on Motorways, so its all new to me. During the heat of the moment, I was keeping an eye on my lanes and concentrating at switching lanes, and listening to google maps directions.

If you just had the car 6 days. The system may not have been updated and the notice went to the previous owner/ garage

endacl

BaRcOe wrote: »

And they didn't notify me of my fine because? There's no reason they shouldn't have sent me a letter saying I owe them €46. It goes up to €103 each way in two weeks. Still I wouldn't have known. No letter. No call. Nothing.

You only had the car a few days. Perhaps the notice went to the previous owner, who ignored it because it wasn’t their problem?

Just in case it hasn’t been mentioned, by the way, there are loads of bleedin’ massive signs all along that stretch reminding you to pay the toll!

BaRcOe

Sleeper12 wrote: »

There is a way around this fee.

First thing is to phone them and explain everything. They will either have pity or they won't. If they still want full payment ask about registering for a video tag. "usually" they will wave the fines if you set up an account with them. You'll be on their system then & they like this. A video tag is free & it reduces the toll by 50c per crossing. With the video tag you will only ever pay for each use. No standing charge or anything like that.

Good luck & please let us know how you got on

Thank you for a constructive, non-criticising response. I will look into a video tag and call and register with them tomorrow

Fighting Tao

BaRcOe wrote: »

So am I the first person in the whole wide world to have made this mistake?

99.99999% of people are observant enough to see the signs. Even people coming up from the country know about it. Observation skills are hugely important while driving.

There are many other threads like yours on Boards. Your mistakes are your responsibility.

BaRcOe

Fighting Tao wrote: »

99.99999% of people are observant enough to see the signs. Even people coming up from the country know about it. Observation skills are hugely important while driving.

There are many other threads like yours on Boards. Your mistakes are your responsibility.

Agreed, fair enough. I will try and be more observant

With great power comes great responsibility.

BaRcOe

endacl wrote: »

You only had the car a few days. Perhaps the notice went to the previous owner, who ignored it because it wasn’t their problem?

Just in case it hasn’t been mentioned, by the way, there are loads of bleedin’ massive signs all along that stretch reminding you to pay the toll!

Omg no way, is there purple signs? And 20 of them? Great! I will look out for them from now on!

pleas advice

'Toll' ?
Wheres that? Shur that's nothin to do with me, I'm goin to Naas

BaRcOe

Del2005 wrote: »

why would you miss your exit? And more importantly it'll reroute you so in Ireland missing a junction isn't a major issue.

I missed it because I wasn't sure which lane to be in. So then google maps re-routed me up the m50 through the toll. So I blame Google Maps for bringing me through the toll twice! :rolleyes:

Effects

Isn't it only €6.50 if you don't pay on time, and then it increases after that if you don't pay?

ligerdub

BaRcOe wrote:

People who are saying "DID YOU NOT SEE THE SIGNS?". I was concentrating on my lanes whilst my girlfriend kept an eye on the phone with google maps directing us. She doesn't drive so she definitely had no idea about the toll. I do recall seeing m50 toll sign, but thought it was a pre warning for an upcoming toll. I was keeping an eye on my road position / lane so that I wouldn't miss my exit. If I started to read all the signs I would have missed my exit.

Don't mind them. Mostly idiots who have forgotten what it's like to drive on the motorway the first couple of times and the things you're focusing on is different to an experienced driver.

It is reasonably easy to forget paying the toll later on. Yes you are informed via the big signs that you have to pay, but that's not to say you can't let it slip your mind when you get home.

I myself forgot once and was only able to keep the fine down because i paid the first notice. You obviously didn't see/receive this for some reason.

I suggest getting in touch and explaining you've not seen the notice and to double check the records versus yours. You should be able to come to some sort of fair deal.

Sleeper12

BaRcOe wrote:

Thank you for a constructive, non-criticising response. I will look into a video tag and call and register with them tomorrow

Oh I forgot : you should look at where you are going in future!

Joke.

I live in Dublin and drive for a living. I spend over 100 per month on tolls so you'd think that know my way around. I've gone onto the toll road in error too & I'm driving over 30 years

twowheelsonly

OP, Welcome to the land of perfect drivers who lie in wait for posters like you, who'll admit to making a mistake, then swoop to condemn you for having the temerity to admit that you're not a perfect driver.
These people have zero penalty points, never speed, are in the correct lane at all times and most importantly they see every roadsign, hazard, pothole or obstruction on the road without fail. All that, and more, despite the fact that they were never learner drivers themselves..

Observation skills and road intuition will come with time and experience (unless you're one of the above... in which case you were born with it..) so don't sweat it too much. You've driven the motorway now so you'll get more comfortable with each passing journey.
Regarding the fine, do as advised earlier - just contact them, explain your story and set up a video account asap. I'd be very confident that they'll quash or reduce the fine.

Good Luck..

salmocab

I forgot to pay a toll, then got a fine out but never got the 6 euro each way standard one the following week, I rang them and explained I never got the first letter and the girl checked that I hadn’t done it before and said I could pay the 6 euro each way. Give them a ring they are grand

wonski

This thread is just one of the reasons I don't care about motors forum any more.

One lad is planning to change his lights with a cheap kit without adding washers etc and advised to replace them just before nct to pass. Not an issue. The motors brigade accepts it.

The op asked a question. Made a mistake after being on the road for a week or two. The motors brigade is up to murder him...

Filter the answers op and you will find some helpful advice. Ignore the rest

yabadabado

BaRcOe wrote: »

So am I the first person in the whole wide world to have made this mistake?

You are the not the first and won't be the last. No need to be a child about it though.

L1011

wonski wrote: »

This thread is just one of the reasons I don't care about motors forum any more.

One lad is planning to change his lights with a cheap kit without adding washers etc and advised to replace them just before nct to pass. Not an issue. The motors brigade accepts it.

The op asked a question. Made a mistake after being on the road for a week or two. The motors brigade is up to murder him...

Filter the answers op and you will find some helpful advice. Ignore the rest

This isn't the Motors forum.

Charles Babbage

Ring them up and say that you made a mistake and that you want to register a video account to make sure it doesn't happen again and would they please let you off the fine.

jcd5971

Ah lads get off the high horses.

The lad made an admittedly silly error but haven't we all at one point.

Op you have your advice there is no reason they have to waive the fine, but if you ring up and are genuine with them that you never meant to go through the toll they may waive the fee as a goodwill gesture.

I think what your saying is you were never notified by post that you accrued a toll charge. I have gone through that toll a few times over the years and with the best intentions in the world forgot about it once or twice until a letter came out so I can sympathise with you there.

Now that road is very very well sign posted though, so going forward it's well worth training yourself to look for signs especially on motorways, often they can carry crucial information.
As a new driver I'm sure it's very stressful on a busy road like that, but consider it a lesson learned if nothing else.

wonski

L1011 wrote: »

This isn't the Motors forum.

That's how I found it...