The tolls you pay: 3 questions answered about how drivers are tolled

Tolling is becoming the new reality around Puget Sound. There are tolls on the Tacoma Narrows Bridge and the 520 bridge, on SR 167 and soon tolls will be on I-405, too.

So we wanted to answer questions about tolling.

KIRO Radio’s Dave Ross asks how the state collects tolls from cars with temporary licenses in their back windows?

Answer: The state doesn’t collect tolls from cars with temporary licenses. The cameras are trained on your license plates so they can’t capture a picture of your temporary license. Also, those licenses don’t reflect the same way as a standard metal plate, so even if the camera gets a shot of that temporary license the state can’t really focus in well enough to send you a toll bill.

The tolling department is trying to find a way to fix this, and they don’t really track how much money it is losing from drivers with temporary licenses, but it’s estimated to be a small amount.

Listener Robert asks, why there are two sensors above the lanes, one in the toll lane and one over the lane next to it. Robert is concerned the second sensor could be used to ding drivers for tolls when they aren’t in the toll lane.

Answer: Double sensors pinpoint exactly which lane the transponder is in. It actually prevents cars outside the HOV lane from being tolled. It’s a safeguard against tolling the wrong car. That same system will be used on I-405.

KIRO Radio’s Colleen O’Brien asks about the new sensors over the HOT lanes on I-405. She’s noticed flashing and wonders if the state was actually tracking you or using the data.

Answer: Drivers will notice bright blue flashes from the cameras over the next few months. Testing on the new tolling system there actually started in the fall. The state is using the data to help fine tune the tolling system. Under state law, the data can only be used for tolling purposes. The images and data collected is destroyed after a few months.