25 Jul Abu Dhabi DoT introduces automated bridge tolls using ANPR for vehicle recognition
The Department of Transport – Abu Dhabi (DoT) and the Integrated Transport Centre (ITC) have announced details of their forthcoming toll gate system that will utilise ANPR systems to identify vehicles as they pass through.
In line with the Surface Transport Master Plan (STMP) for the Emirate of Abu Dhabi four toll gates on major bridges leading into the city of Abu Dhabi will be active from 15 October 2019, in a move set to reduce traffic congestion and raise the efficiency of the transport sector. The toll gate system is being introduced in accordance with Law No. (17) of 2017 on Road Tolls in the Emirate of Abu Dhabi.
The ITC will collect a toll as each vehicle crosses any of the four toll gates on Sheikh Zayed Bridge, Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Bridge, Al Maqtaa Bridge and Mussafah Bridge. The toll fee will be AED4 for every pass during peak hours from Saturday to Thursday (7am – 9am and 5pm – 7pm). During off-peak hours, on Fridays, and during public holidays, the toll fee will be AED2 for every pass. The toll collection system is operational 24/7, with a daily maximum fee of AED16 per vehicle. The amount due will be automatically deducted from a prepaid user account (the Integrated Electronic Payment wallet).
All road users should open a special toll account and through this account they will be able to manage their own vehicles and process payments online. All Abu Dhabi registered vehicles on the official system registration launch, 30 August 2019, will have automatically registered accounts at no charge. Account holders will automatically receive an SMS message stating their user-name and password for that account, and can then add any additional vehicles to the registered account as required. For vehicles registered outside Abu Dhabi, the owner must be registered in the system before crossing the toll gates. In case a vehicle which is not registered in the toll gate system crosses under the toll gates, the user will be given a grace period of ten business days, starting from the crossing time, to register in the system, otherwise a fine applies.
Vehicles registered in Abu Dhabi may pay the toll fee according to the post-payment system during any vehicle licensing procedure in case of insufficient balance. For vehicles registered outside Abu Dhabi with insufficient credit available in their user account, drivers have five business days to top up the account, otherwise a fine will apply as per the regulations.
Traffic fines for crossing the toll gate with a non-registered vehicle, after the ten working days grace period, will be AED100 for the first day, AED200 for the second day, and AED400 for the third day, up to a maximum of AED10,000. Crossing under the toll gates without sufficient balance in the user’s account for vehicles registered outside Abu Dhabi and after the grace period deadline, will result in a fine of AED50 incurred each day. In case users tamper with the vehicle’s license plate for the explicit purpose of evading the payment of fees, the fine is AED10,000. Additionally, causing damage to any e-payment machines or toll gates, will result in a fine of AED10,000.
For further updates on registration formalities follow @ITCAbuDhabi.