$700,000 of road fines wiped by NZTA

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Mon, 05 Dec 2011 6:46p.m.

The biggest toll dodger owes $2654 and made almost 1400 unpaid trips

The biggest toll dodger owes $2654 and made almost 1400 unpaid trips

By Elizabeth Puranam

The New Zealand Transport Agency has written off more than $700,000 worth of fines.

The debt has been incurred by motorists on Auckland’s Northern Gateway, and critics say the worst of the toll dodgers should be taken to court.

Ten thousand motorists use the seven kilometre stretch of road just north of Auckland every day, but not everyone is paying the $2 toll.

Since the road opened in January, 2009, the NZTA has wiped out $720,000 worth of fines, and the AA says that is unacceptable.

“This is absolutely outrageous. It seems we're developing one system for those law-abiding drivers who are willing to pay at the toll and we're tolerating an absolutely separate system for those who are thumbing their nose to the law and their obligation to pay a toll,” says the AA’s Simon Lambourne.

But the NZTA says only four percent thumb their noses and they have collected $22 million from those that do not.

“If we look at international toll road experience, we're already at the top end of performance. We've got 96 percent compliance on people paying their tolls,” says Stephen Town, of the NZTA.

They say even though the fines have been wiped off, debt collectors are still pursuing the worst offenders.

The biggest toll dodger owes $2654 and made almost 1400 unpaid trips.

The runner-up for doing a runner owes $2600 for 900 trips.

And the bronze medal, $2150 for putting the pedal to the metal almost 700 times.

The AA wants all of the toll dodgers taken to court, but the NZTA says 80 percent of the fines are for less than $50 and chasing them would be a waste of taxpayers' money.

The NZTA adds that the toll road is optional, and those who do not want to pay should use the alternative scenic route.

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Comments

06 Dec 2011 09:20a.m.

Muller wrote:

I meant to say tolls not tools. Here is the letter i wrote to the NZTA Dear Sir /Madam I would like to: (a) Raise a matter concerning the circumstances of the offence for consideration. I use the toll gate intermittently as I drop my kids of for access. The last time I paid I think I bought 5 trips for $10, If you are correct I must have missed one trip as I was under the influence I still had a trip before I bought another 5 trips for $10.00 It is also hard to buy trips when you are northbound as you can’t turn right on SH1 but next time I go south I will pre buy some trips again. If I have missed the last payment here is $2 enclosed till I buy some trips when going south again. I was not given any warning that I might have missed one payment and am also not prepared to pay $ 40.00 for a $2.00 mistake If this does not settle the matter I would like to use my option of going to Court by claiming (b) Deny liability for the offence and request a court hearing. Thank you for your time My mobile no is 021 430 074 if anybody want to discuss this matter with me.

06 Dec 2011 09:06a.m.

Muller wrote:

I had a paid ten dollars for tools but unfortunately for me, as i dont use the road often went over by one trip. Rather than informing me about this i received a $40 fine from The NZTA. I wrote a letter explaining this honest mistake and included a two dollar coin. I have now received a court order for $60.67 and a threat for another $102.22 I find this absolutely unfair and will refuse to pay this money no matter what happens as a matter of principal. The NZTA is a faceless heartless monster in my opinion.

06 Dec 2011 01:05a.m.

Alex wrote:

The NZTA should take a look at themselves as to why they've designed a system that allows motorists to evade the tolls instated for this road. Obviously those who've done it once are going to continue to do so until they are caught and forced to repay the money owed.

05 Dec 2011 11:01p.m.

Greg wrote:

If the country had spare billions I'd say chase the dodgers, but as we don't I think we should only chase those we'll make a profit from chasing.

05 Dec 2011 09:26p.m.

Chris wrote:

Just have a patrol car parked on one end of the tunnel with the camera hooked up to a computer system that alerts the police officer of an approaching car which has outstanding payments. Driver gets pulled over and car gets towed away, car released on payment of fine ,towing and adminstration fees.

05 Dec 2011 09:08p.m.

Greg wrote:

If the country had spare billions I'd say chase the dodgers, but as we don't I think we should only chase those we'll make a profit from chasing.

05 Dec 2011 07:52p.m.

Jordan wrote:

Good! New Zealand needs to learn to spend its money wisely -_- we are in debt and they expect to fork out this much for some road signs John key you dissapoint me in the way you have run New Zealand! We need to stop letting scum use the doll and not expect to pay it back, when we need that money for more important things Fix this John Key!