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Author Topic: Really REALLY EZ Pass (AKA: Product protects license plates from being photographed) Scott Norwood Film God Posts: 8146 From: Boston, MA. USA (1774.21 miles northeast of Dallas) Registered: Jun 99 posted 12-19-2004 10:42 AM                        As far as I know, red-light and speed cameras aren't legal (or, at least, aren't used) in Massachusetts. This is a Good Thing. I remember the uproar when the red-light cameras were first introduced in the Washington, DC area in the mid-1990s. On the topic of EZ-PASS, the Massachusetts Turnpike uses something called "Fast Lane," which uses transponders which work with EZ-PASS (and vice-versa). I believe that the EZ-PASS transponder is free, while the Fast Lane version requires payment of a fee; on the other hand, the Mass. Pike gives a discount to Fast Lane users. I don't have either one and once drove through a Fast Lane lane to see what would happen (this was soon after the system was introduced). A few weeks later, I got a mailing which included a B&W computer printout of a low-res photograph of my license plate. The letter that came with it basically said that, if I were to drive through a Fast Lane again with that plate number, I would be fined $50. The first one was free.  |  IP: Logged Tim Reed Better Projection Pays Posts: 5246 From: Northampton, PA Registered: Sep 1999 posted 12-19-2004 12:06 PM                       That's funny! I've spotted the cameras at toll booths. But I'm still trying to figure out what the illuminated heat-gun-looking things are, that are located close to road level as you drive out of the booth?  |  IP: Logged Randy Stankey Film God Posts: 6539 From: Erie, Pennsylvania Registered: Jun 99 posted 12-19-2004 12:20 PM                     quote: Scott Norwood As far as I know, red-light and speed cameras aren't legal (or, at least, aren't used) in Massachusetts. I wouldn't doubt that, being a "People's Republic" and all but from my understanding, the theory that makes it possible for red light cams & other automatic devices to be installed is that they aren't activated unless somebody breaks the law. BTW: The comment I made about not going through a toll booth and backing up traffic was meant to dramatize a point. In other words, you shouldn't get worried about other people behind you. Take care of your own business first. Then worry about other cars. (Up to a point.) I wouldn't sit at a broken toll machine for more than a minute or so. After that, like Tim said, I'd probably pull over to the side... and complain like hell!  |  IP: Logged Scott Norwood Film God Posts: 8146 From: Boston, MA. USA (1774.21 miles northeast of Dallas) Registered: Jun 99 posted 12-19-2004 12:36 PM                        Tim--I think those things are just PAR-type fixtures that contain lightbulbs. The cameras look to be of the "security camera" type, which capture a video image which is (presumably) captured by the computer when it detects that someone has driven through without paying or without a transponder. I suppose that they might be IR cameras instead, but the pic they sent me looked pretty standard. Presumably, they either have some way to OCR the plate numbers or someone manually inputs the plate number into the database. I have been generally boycotting the Mass. Pike as much as possible since they doubled tolls a year or two ago to pay for their mismanagement of the Big Dig project. Originally, the tolls were supposed to go away (by law!) when the cost of building the road was payed off--which should have been sometime in the early 1980s. Of course, the tolls haven't gone away and, in fact, keep increasing.  |  IP: Logged Thomas Procyk Phenomenal Film Handler Posts: 1842 From: Royal Palm Beach, FL, USA Registered: Feb 2002 posted 12-19-2004 12:51 PM                     I always thought those "heat guns" at the toll booths were the things that shined a BRIGHT light on your plate. People go through tolls all the time here (Waiting to put in coins I always hear 3 or 4 buzzers going off) but I never see a "flash" from the camera. I think the bright light solves the need for one. Scott -- It's the same situation here. The "East/West Expressway" was completed in 1988 I believe, and the tolls were supposed to go away once it was paid for, ten years later. Well, the time came to remove the tolls, so they held a city council meeting for a proposal to keep the tolls to fund "other road projects" and the dumbass citizens of this city agreed. Where did the money go? TO ADD MORE TOLL BOOTHS! The traffic problem in this city would be **ELIMINATED** if they lifted the toll on that damn road. Same thing with the Florida Turnpike. The road was almost paid for, so what did they do? Renamed it the Ronald Reagan Turnpike and raised the tolls. Well, at least his legacy lives on. =TMP=  |  IP: Logged Scott D. Neff Theatre Dork Posts: 919 From: San Francisco, CA Registered: Oct 1999 posted 12-20-2004 03:03 PM                        The toll on the Golden Gate Bridge was supposed to last until the bridge was paid off. Apparently that happened like 20 years ago and now they're charging us $5.00 every time we want to go into San Francisco. And they're talking about raising it. Checking out the website just now on the history of the toll on the GGB, they used to do crazy stuff like they were a movie theatre or something. $2.00 on Friday & Saturdays, $1.00 Sun-Thu. I'm surprised they didn't have a discount Tuesday where all cars were $0.50.  |  IP: Logged

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