The Tyne Tunnel has taken two "serial toll evaders" to court after they racked up 264 unpaid journeys between them.
The operator behind the Tyne Tunnel has warned that those who regularly choose not to pay their tunnel passage may be taken to court and prosecuted. The warning comes after two motorists who made dozens of journeys through the Tyne Tunnels without paying have been successfully prosecuted and fined at Newcastle Magistrates Court on August 18, 2022.
These are the first examples since the new open road toll system was introduced in November 2021.
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The first defendant, who appeared in person and pleaded guilty, was fined £150 for the offence of failing to pay the required toll for a single specimen journey, along with a victim surcharge of £34 and prosecution costs of £150. This driver had made 170 journeys through the tunnels without paying the tolls.
The second defendant didn’t appear in court and was charged in his absence with failing to pay a toll for a single specimen journey and was also charged with failing to provide information when requested. He was convicted of both charges and fined £220 for failing to provide information and ordered to pay a victim surcharge of £44 along with prosecution costs of £150.
He had made 94 journeys through the tunnels without paying the tolls. For both defendants, the remaining outstanding journeys remain due for payment along with recovery costs.
Philip Smith, CEO of TT2, said: “Serial toll evaders are a small proportion of motorists using the Tyne Tunnels. However, this small proportion who repeatedly refuse to pay the toll are a cost to other motorists and ultimately the public purse.
“They should be in no doubt that we will prosecute serial toll evaders, so we are able to continue providing and improving the service for the majority of tunnel users who pay for their journeys.”
The Tyne Tunnels are private roads that do not benefit from centrally funded maintenance, refurbishment, or operational support. As a private road, tolls continue to be collected to cover the costs for the operation and maintenance of the tunnels, as well as the client’s own costs of debt repayments from the construction of the second tunnel.
Philip says almost 97 per cent of drivers pay their toll without issue. Under the new system, cameras automatically register journeys and payment needs to be made before midnight the following day.
Philip, added: “The recent appraisal report conducted by Transport North East conformed we have delivered faster, smoother journeys, less congestion, reduced emissions and better local air quality and they were the main reasons behind the decision to launch open-road-tolling.
“The increased levels of traffic through the tunnels since the move to open-road-tolling shows that most of our customers recognise we are delivering an improved travel experience. For any motorists that are still struggling to adjust to the changes we continue to help where we can with ongoing campaigns, transitional rules and a customer service team that is available seven days a week.
"For the small group who simply resent paying, we will be tough on that group of offenders.”
When a UTCN is issued the motorist has 14 days to pay the £30 plus the initial toll before it then becomes £60 plus the toll when it reaches 15-28 days - you are also sent a reminder to pay. If no payment is made by 28 days, the fine rises to £100 plus the toll and is then sent to a third-party debt collector.
You can then appeal, and the case is frozen until you receive a response.
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