For drivers equipped with a properly mounted, funded transponder, the gantry reads the tag and deducts the appropriate amount. The challenge begins when a vehicle passes underneath without an active account. In these instances, the system defaults to Toll-by-Plate.
The sequence relies entirely on the license plate reader camera. High-speed optical equipment takes two separate images: a wide-angle shot of the vehicle's rear frame and a high-contrast close-up focused exclusively on the plate letters, numbers, and issuing state jurisdiction. Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software extracts the alphanumeric string, cross-referencing it with the New Jersey Motor Vehicle Commission (MVC) database or interstate registry networks.
Once ownership is verified, the NJTA generates an unpaid toll notice. This document contains the date, exact time, gantry location, image capture, and the base toll amount due. Drivers have a standard 30-day window from the mail date to settle the charge through the state's central web portal or by phone. Missing that deadline, however, converts the notice into an official toll violation invoice, triggering punitive charges that dwarf the original toll.
