Just signed up for the RTA E-Toll thing.

[reg-john]

E-Tag is getting shit on today.

[What The]

whats the difference?


"reg-john" <jab@bab.com> wrote in message
news:teDkd.32033$K7.2766@news-server.bigpond.net.au...
> E-Tag is getting shit on today.
>
>
>
>

[athol]

reg-john <jab@bab.com> wrote:
> E-Tag is getting shit on today.

Is that the system that has just announced that if you don't use it
at least x times per quarter, they're going to slug you an extra $y
per annum just to have it?

I think that the x was 20 or so and y was 24.

If I want to use the national highway to get from the F3 to the
Hume when the WSO is completed, I believe that I _have_ to use the
e-toll system to use that road. If I use it a total of 3 trips
per annum, that's 6 toll payments on the WSO plus 6 on the M2, a
grand total of 12 toll payments by e-toll per annum.

If they are going to charge an extra $24 per annum just to have the
e-tag, then the National Highway route through Sydney is not
accessible to road users from outside Sydney, which defeats the
whole _official_ purpose of building it.

Oh, and where in Newcastle do I buy e-toll, anyway?

I'll be interested to see if the WSO (and all of the other tollways
in Sydney for that matter) offer the option of cash payment in the
long term...

--
Athol
<http://cust.idl.com.au/athol>
Linux Registered User # 254000
I'm a Libran Engineer. I don't argue, I discuss.

[Mathew M.]

On Thu, 11 Nov 2004 07:26:47 +0000, athol wrote:

> reg-john <jab@bab.com> wrote:
>> E-Tag is getting shit on today.
>
> Is that the system that has just announced that if you don't use it at
> least x times per quarter, they're going to slug you an extra $y per annum
> just to have it?
>
> I think that the x was 20 or so and y was 24.
>
> If I want to use the national highway to get from the F3 to the Hume when
> the WSO is completed, I believe that I _have_ to use the e-toll system to
> use that road. If I use it a total of 3 trips per annum, that's 6 toll
> payments on the WSO plus 6 on the M2, a grand total of 12 toll payments by
> e-toll per annum.
>
> If they are going to charge an extra $24 per annum just to have the e-tag,
> then the National Highway route through Sydney is not accessible to road
> users from outside Sydney, which defeats the whole _official_ purpose of
> building it.
>
> Oh, and where in Newcastle do I buy e-toll, anyway?
>
> I'll be interested to see if the WSO (and all of the other tollways in
> Sydney for that matter) offer the option of cash payment in the long
> term...

I think Melbourne has a system where if you're from out of town, you can
buy a toll pass for your particular rego # from post offices etc
just out of town that's good for one day. The OCR system connected to the
cameras sees your plate goes past, and checks to see if you bought one of
these passes.

I haven't used this system, only been told about it. I skip the tollways
completely and use the ringroad.

--
Mathew M. <mathew@spiesNOSPAMareus.yi.org>
GPG public key ID: 0x3DDC1413

This post contains a chemical or chemicals known to the state of California
to cause cancer, birth defects or other reproductive harm. This (these)
chemical(s) may be harmful to your health.

[veritas]

Mathew M. wrote:

>
> I think Melbourne has a system where if you're from out of town, you can
> buy a toll pass for your particular rego # from post offices etc
> just out of town that's good for one day. The OCR system connected to the
> cameras sees your plate goes past, and checks to see if you bought one of
> these passes.

You are correct............

[Scott Badman]

"What The" <meh@meh.com> wrote in message
news:2xDkd.32055$K7.15620@news-server.bigpond.net.au...
> whats the difference?
>

Looks exactly the same as my E-Tag......

Which I think I'll keep until such time that there is firm evidence to
require an E-Toll, in which case I'd rather take non-toll roads then give
the RTA anymore money to waste :)

> "reg-john" <jab@bab.com> wrote in message
> news:teDkd.32033$K7.2766@news-server.bigpond.net.au...
> > E-Tag is getting shit on today.
> >
> >
> >
> >
>
>

[reg-john]

E-Toll is offered by RTA, and can be got a number of ways via their website.
it has a $40 deposit, $60 initial credit amount, and auto debits $80 from
your nominated DD or CC once you drop below 20 dollars. you can increase the
debited amount if you wish.

It is usuable on all sydney toll roads, as well as melbourne and brisbane
toll roads. there is no low use fine, and the tag is swappable into other
cars without a $10 dollar penalty like E-tag.


"athol" <me@privacy.net> wrote in message
news:2vgihnF2ki8ltU1@uni-berlin.de...
> reg-john <jab@bab.com> wrote:
> > E-Tag is getting shit on today.
>
> Is that the system that has just announced that if you don't use it
> at least x times per quarter, they're going to slug you an extra $y
> per annum just to have it?
>
> I think that the x was 20 or so and y was 24.
>
> If I want to use the national highway to get from the F3 to the
> Hume when the WSO is completed, I believe that I _have_ to use the
> e-toll system to use that road. If I use it a total of 3 trips
> per annum, that's 6 toll payments on the WSO plus 6 on the M2, a
> grand total of 12 toll payments by e-toll per annum.
>
> If they are going to charge an extra $24 per annum just to have the
> e-tag, then the National Highway route through Sydney is not
> accessible to road users from outside Sydney, which defeats the
> whole _official_ purpose of building it.
>
> Oh, and where in Newcastle do I buy e-toll, anyway?
>
> I'll be interested to see if the WSO (and all of the other tollways
> in Sydney for that matter) offer the option of cash payment in the
> long term...
>
> --
> Athol
> <http://cust.idl.com.au/athol>
> Linux Registered User # 254000
> I'm a Libran Engineer. I don't argue, I discuss.

[Patrick Young]

reg-john wrote:

> E-Toll is offered by RTA, and can be got a number of ways via their website.
> it has a $40 deposit, $60 initial credit amount, and auto debits $80 from
> your nominated DD or CC once you drop below 20 dollars. you can increase the
> debited amount if you wish.

I've been using it for a couple of years now. The statements are useful
for work when you forgot to fill out the time books there :-)

The tags were not that good in earlier times as it took yonks and yonks
for them to be used on the Hills motorway for example.

I understand RTA tags are quite commonly accepted now - used to
be a real PITA, and it took them *bloody* long enough to sort it out.

Indeed, if it is something you only need in a blue moon, then
there must still be cash lanes at the toll booths.

Now, my pet hate: the E-Toll only lane on the tunnel (SHTUN) heading
South. That should be on the left, not the right (it is useless there,
so I have to queue in either lane 21 or lane 22 :-( :-( :-(

My last toll bill for 01-Jul-2004 to 30-Sep-2004 was $417. Sad
they cannot get the lane position right for that $.

Oh, my other pet hate: folk who slow to 5kph. Those things will work
at 500kph, and certainly at the 40kph or 60kph speed limits used at
toll collection plazas.

[Ozboc]

"reg-john" <jab@bab.com> wrote in message
news:teDkd.32033$K7.2766@news-server.bigpond.net.au...
> E-Tag is getting shit on today.
>
>
>
>

Yes - the new STUPID rule , you must use it more than 24 times in 3 months
OR they will be charging you a fee each year - There justification? They say
the Gizmo they send you costs them a lot of money - But we pay $50 as a
holding deposit for it --- so that $50 x few hundred thousand ( if not
million ) adds up to a tidy sum -- that then put into a bank account earning
good interest WILL pay for itself ...

In short greedy assholes wanting Even more money for using toll roads that
should be funded by the Gov

Boc

[FuTAnT]

Patrick Young wrote:
> reg-john wrote:
>
>> E-Toll is offered by RTA, and can be got a number of ways via their
>> website.
>> it has a $40 deposit, $60 initial credit amount, and auto debits $80 from
>> your nominated DD or CC once you drop below 20 dollars. you can increase
>> the
>> debited amount if you wish.
>
> I've been using it for a couple of years now. The statements are useful
> for work when you forgot to fill out the time books there :-)
>
> The tags were not that good in earlier times as it took yonks and yonks
> for them to be used on the Hills motorway for example.
>
> I understand RTA tags are quite commonly accepted now - used to
> be a real PITA, and it took them *bloody* long enough to sort it out.
>
> Indeed, if it is something you only need in a blue moon, then
> there must still be cash lanes at the toll booths.
>
> Now, my pet hate: the E-Toll only lane on the tunnel (SHTUN) heading
> South. That should be on the left, not the right (it is useless there,
> so I have to queue in either lane 21 or lane 22 :-( :-( :-(
>
> My last toll bill for 01-Jul-2004 to 30-Sep-2004 was $417. Sad
> they cannot get the lane position right for that $.
>
> Oh, my other pet hate: folk who slow to 5kph. Those things will work
> at 500kph, and certainly at the 40kph or 60kph speed limits used at
> toll collection plazas.

People have a perception that if they go through and it doesn't go off
somehow they'll be ambushed and shot to death on the spot. Stupid, but ..
you know how it is. Reality says there jack you can do about it if the thing
doesn't go off, so just keep driving and fix it up later, however, common
sense doesn't prevail :(

Cam

[Patrick Young]

FuTAnT wrote:

> Patrick Young wrote:

>>Oh, my other pet hate: folk who slow to 5kph. Those things will work
>>at 500kph, and certainly at the 40kph or 60kph speed limits used at
>>toll collection plazas.

> People have a perception that if they go through and it doesn't go off
> somehow they'll be ambushed and shot to death on the spot. Stupid, but ..
> you know how it is. Reality says there jack you can do about it if the thing
> doesn't go off, so just keep driving and fix it up later, however, common
> sense doesn't prevail :(

It really does not matter if it does not register (or be refused)
_IF YOU HAVE A TAG IN THE CORRECT VEHICLE_. In the early days they
used to issue a letter to advise you to contact them or face a fine
(because your C/C was renewed with a different expiry date etc (I was
on the phone to them with WTF!!!???? and round filed the letters)).

These days it is a debit system - your tag can go into debit and that is
fine. The banner on the toll lane says "insufficient funds", the light
is red - not a problem - go right though, take a few days even to fix it
up - no drama, no fines.

They have enough details about you that it _really is_ the same issue as
not paying your electric or gas on the due date.

[Mathew M.]

On Thu, 11 Nov 2004 21:20:08 +1100, Ozboc wrote:

>
> "reg-john" <jab@bab.com> wrote in message
> news:teDkd.32033$K7.2766@news-server.bigpond.net.au...
>> E-Tag is getting shit on today.
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
> Yes - the new STUPID rule , you must use it more than 24 times in 3 months
> OR they will be charging you a fee each year - There justification? They
> say the Gizmo they send you costs them a lot of money - But we pay $50 as
> a holding deposit for it --- so that $50 x few hundred thousand ( if not
> million ) adds up to a tidy sum -- that then put into a bank account
> earning good interest WILL pay for itself ...
>
> In short greedy assholes wanting Even more money for using toll roads that
> should be funded by the Gov
>
> Boc

I bet the tags actually cost them fuck all in the quantities they buy them
in.

--
Mathew M. <mathew@spiesNOSPAMareus.yi.org>
GPG public key ID: 0x3DDC1413

This post contains a chemical or chemicals known to the state of California
to cause cancer, birth defects or other reproductive harm. This (these)
chemical(s) may be harmful to your health.

[Iain Chalmers]

In article <2vgr07F2k06leU1@uni-berlin.de>,
Patrick Young <patrick@hilux.ace.unsw.EDU.AU> wrote:

> Indeed, if it is something you only need in a blue moon, then
> there must still be cash lanes at the toll booths.

It seems the new cross city tunnel _won't_ have any cash lanes...

from:

http://dailytelegraph.news.com.au/story.jsp?sectionid=1260&storyid=223060
1

"Mr Scully's spokesman said the State Government was finalising plans to
allow casual users to pay tolls on the Cross City Tunnel - Australia's
first cashless motorway once construction is completed."

Sounds to me like they worked out yesterday afternoon that a "cashless
motorway" wasn't such a good idea :-)

big
--
"I say we take off and nuke the entire site from orbit.
That's the only way to be sure." - Ellen Ripley

[Bernd Felsche]

Iain Chalmers <bigiain@mightymedia.com.au> writes:

>In article <2vgr07F2k06leU1@uni-berlin.de>,
> Patrick Young <patrick@hilux.ace.unsw.EDU.AU> wrote:

>> Indeed, if it is something you only need in a blue moon, then
>> there must still be cash lanes at the toll booths.

>It seems the new cross city tunnel _won't_ have any cash lanes...

>from:

>http://dailytelegraph.news.com.au/story.jsp?sectionid=1260&storyid=2230601

>"Mr Scully's spokesman said the State Government was finalising plans to
>allow casual users to pay tolls on the Cross City Tunnel - Australia's
>first cashless motorway once construction is completed."

We've had a cashless motorway in WA for about 40 years. It's called
a Freeway. :-)

>Sounds to me like they worked out yesterday afternoon that a "cashless
>motorway" wasn't such a good idea :-)

Scully doesn't seem bright enough to light the inside of a small fridge.
--
/"\ Bernd Felsche - Innovative Reckoning, Perth, Western Australia
\ / ASCII ribbon campaign | I'm a .signature virus!
X against HTML mail | Copy me into your ~/.signature
/ \ and postings | to help me spread!

[Scott Howard]

FuTAnT <blah@blah.com> wrote:
> People have a perception that if they go through and it doesn't go off
> somehow they'll be ambushed and shot to death on the spot. Stupid, but ..
> you know how it is. Reality says there jack you can do about it if the thing
> doesn't go off, so just keep driving and fix it up later, however, common

I've had mine not go off exactly once. Next bill had an 'adjustment' listed
at the top of it for the toll, with details of the car rego/date/location.

The only way it would worry me would be if the tag was in a different car
than that it was registered for - in that case I expected you'd get a much
larger bill in the post.
(From memory E-toll lets you list multiple regos for the one tag to get
around this)

Scott

[Toby Ponsenby]

On Fri, 12 Nov 2004 17:58:28 +0800, Bernd Felsche wrote:

> Scully doesn't seem bright enough to light the inside of a small fridge.

I suppose we could try him in a microwave....
--
Toby
quidquid latine dictum
sit, altum viditur

[Bernd Felsche]

Toby Ponsenby <toby@privacy.net> writes:

>On Fri, 12 Nov 2004 17:58:28 +0800, Bernd Felsche wrote:

>> Scully doesn't seem bright enough to light the inside of a small fridge.

>I suppose we could try him in a microwave....

You have to charge him first.
--
/"\ Bernd Felsche - Innovative Reckoning, Perth, Western Australia
\ / ASCII ribbon campaign | I'm a .signature virus!
X against HTML mail | Copy me into your ~/.signature
/ \ and postings | to help me spread!

[athol]

Bernd Felsche <bernie@innovative.iinet.net.au> wrote:
> Toby Ponsenby <toby@privacy.net> writes:
>>On Fri, 12 Nov 2004 17:58:28 +0800, Bernd Felsche wrote:

>>> Scully doesn't seem bright enough to light the inside of a small fridge.

>>I suppose we could try him in a microwave....

> You have to charge him first.

Nah. Just plug him into the 240V light globe socket, close the
microwave, turn it on and wait to see if he starts glowing.

--
Athol
<http://cust.idl.com.au/athol>
Linux Registered User # 254000
I'm a Libran Engineer. I don't argue, I discuss.

[Thomas 'bacco|007' Baxter]

On 11 Nov 2004 07:26:47 GMT, athol wrote:

> I'll be interested to see if the WSO (and all of the other tollways
> in Sydney for that matter) offer the option of cash payment in the
> long term...

I was under the impression that the WSO & the CCT were to be cashless
systems (using a system similar to that the Victorians use on Citylink(??))

If the plan to toll sections of the pacific (and i guess other routes in
the future) goes ahead the E-Toll might be worth it.
--
aDTVinfo - http://bacco007.dropbear.id.au

[athol]

Thomas 'bacco|007' Baxter <nospam@nospam.com> wrote:

> I was under the impression that the WSO & the CCT were to be cashless
> systems (using a system similar to that the Victorians use on Citylink(??))

That's what worries me.

> If the plan to toll sections of the pacific (and i guess other routes in
> the future) goes ahead the E-Toll might be worth it.

Adding tolls to a section of road that previously existed as a freeway
(eg M4) is a very dubious stunt. If they did it on the Pacific Hwy north
of Karuah (the bits that are yet to be upgraded) or on the link between
the F3 and the Pacific Hwy, I simply wouldn't use them.

The only piece of road that's proposed to be built that might be done as
a tollway (I hope not) is the F3-New England link. I'd use that both
ways about twice a month on average. 4 trips per month, 12 trips per
quarter. I'd still get slugged the "infrequent user" fee...

--
Athol
<http://cust.idl.com.au/athol>
Linux Registered User # 254000
I'm a Libran Engineer. I don't argue, I discuss.