Taking its toll on tax

25,000 infringement notices were sent out last week. Photo / Martin Sykes

Motorists have failed to pay for more than 35,000 trips through the new Northern Gateway toll tunnel since charges were imposed on January 27.

But the cost of chasing up the cash - at least $80,000 so far - will fall on the taxpayer, because transport authorities won't start charging recovery fees until March 16.

New Zealand Transport Authority spokesman Andy Knackstedt said the decision to waive the $2.20 recovery administration charge was made in December, before the road opened.

"It's about giving people time to use the system and to learn what the different options are," he said.

The authority last week began mailing infringement notices to registered owners of vehicles recorded making unpaid trips, with 25,000 sent out by Friday.

A $40 fine can be issued if the toll is not paid within 28 days.

Knackstedt said the authority was happy with the 92 per cent payment rate so far.

"We realise that paying tolls electronically is a completely new experience for most New Zealanders, and based on overseas experience we had anticipated higher initial non-payment levels."

The electronic system has suffered a series of glitches since its launch.

Even before opening day, the payment website, on which motorists enter credit card or bank details to set up pre-pay accounts, was closed down because of security fears.

Motorists endured long queues at cash payment kiosks after the toll road opened, resulting in hasty changes to encourage more drivers to use internet and phone payment systems.

Knackstedt said a printing error caused a delay of a few days in the sending out of infringement notices.

Travelling the 7.5km road between Orewa and Puhoi costs $2 for cars and $4 for larger vehicles and trucks.

Cameras record the size of the vehicle and its licence plates, which are automatically read and processed.

The system is recording about 13,000 trips every day.

Between 700 and 1000 images are manually checked every day because the optical readers can't identify the plate. Of those that are manually read, about 50 plates a day can't be identified.

Knackstedt said that rate is comparable with similar toll systems overseas.