Originally Posted by
docbert
They instead rely on the video-based license plate detection use the toll roads. If your toll is paid by some other means (cash, your own transponder, etc) then the license plate will not be charged, and thus you won't be charged anything by Hertz/Platepass. If you pass through without paying, your license plate photo is taken, which goes to Hertz/Platepass, who then pass it on with the additional fee.
I rent often in Texas and it seems the TX plate cars are registered and there is sometimes a sticker on the windshield informing you of this great benefit.
Originally Posted by
Brattflyer
This trip I paid by cash. At the second to the last toll booth I get ready to pay and the toll taker says, "sorry the computer already has charged you." This is the scam part that drives me nuts. I go out of my way to pay cash or avoid the tolls and then I'm stuck with the $20+ fee when this happens.
This happens to me on the east coast too which burns me up. I believe many cars there still have transponders. There are some that are mounted on the license plate frame. I prefer the old style ones on the windshield with the shield you can turn on or off but maybe people have stolen those too much so they don't use them. I try to get a car with a way out of state plate or confirm with the agent that the car is not registered (but of course they don't really know).
In Texas I am screwed because the toll roads are all automated, you don't have an option to pay on your own or use your own transponder.
I was pleasantly surprised when I rented from Enterprise to see a prominent note on the counter explaining the feature and saying that if you bring your own transponder to let them know and they will disable the toll reading for that trip.
I got hit on I-635 with a new express toll lane setup where some exits have transponder readers but cars come from both express and non-express lanes so it is unavoidable. I was fearful when I went under the reader since I had not been in an express lane and shouldn't be charged. Sure enough I got hit for a weird $.34 toll or so with the added $10 charge
I complained and it got removed.
I presume the read of the transponder is supposed to match it up with an express lane entry but it messed up somehow.