More than 11,000 Tyne Tunnel fines issued to drivers have been cancelled over the past two months, it has been revealed.
A new 'cashless' payment system was introduced in November, forcing drivers to pay online later rather than at the toll booths.
But the system has caused widespread confusion for tunnel users in the region - landing them with hefty fines of £60, leading to £100 if left unpaid.
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More than 140,000 financial penalties have been issued since implementing the changes, with furious drivers launching a petition against the overhaul of the payment system.
A reported number of 66,181 fines were handed out last month to non-compliant tunnel users - down from 73,846 in November, of which 11,152 appeals have subsequently been upheld.
The standard fine issued in a UTCN is a charge of £60 plus the initial toll charge, which is halved to £30 if paid within 14 days of receipt. However, for motorists refusing to pay within 28 days, the fine goes up to £100.
Before the cashless transition, users of the transport link would have to pay at barriers at the beginning or end of their journey - depending on travelling north or southbound.
But since toll booths were demolished at the end of last year, drivers are now asked to pre-pay using a mobile app, or pay online for their journey before midnight the following day.
A spokesman for TT2 Limited, said: “When an appeal is made to TT2 the Charge Notice is effectively frozen until the process completes.
"If the appeal is upheld the UTCN is simply removed from the records/system - there is no need to refund because money was never taken or received.
"It is not correct to say more than 11,000 motorists have had money refunded, it is correct to say that from Nov/Dec journeys until 18/1/22, some 11,152 appeals against Charge Notices have been upheld.
"Refunds are only being made where we have identified a technical error, but a customer has already paid the charge.
"Currently we have identified around 900 customers in that category and we are working with those customers to issue a refund. We have also implemented a fix so this will not occur in future.”
Labour MP for South Shields, Emma Lewell-Buck thinks that the upholding of appeals is a positive step from Tyne Tunnel executives, but insists more should be done.
She has suggested extending payment periods and lowering standard charges for UTCNs - matters she brought up with TT2 executives in a recent meeting.
Speaking to ChronicleLive, she said: "They were aware of things that myself and campaigners have been asking for, so I was pushing for independent oversight of appeals and complaints, for them to halt all bailiff or collection action against people, and for increased signage.
"I'd also asked them about reducing the level of the fine and also giving people longer time to pay."
Emma also said TT2 Limited had agreed to independent oversight with regards to appeals and complaints and that they're also putting in place a financial hardship scheme.
She also alleged that staff at the tunnel are also looking through every single fine that they've made, and if it was through their own error then they will be cancelling them immediately.
However, the MP still strives for more change - to benefit motorists in the local community who regularly use the Tyne Tunnel.
She continued: "For me, though, the thing that is still outstanding is that people need more time to pay, and I think that they should be looking at reducing the level of fines.
"We've agreed to meet again so it's not over with yet, but they're the two things that I would say are outstanding at this stage."
