We reported recently on the new road toll system coming to Croatian motorways, and it seems that when this brand new system is implemented, each motorway user will have to register themselves via a user account (via the internet or via the application) and road tolls will be paid either by credit card or be postpaid. The powers that only inspectors currently have, will be passed onto cashiers via a new law.
As Poslovni Dnevnik/Josip Bohutinski/VL writes on the 13th of July. 2019, as of the year 2022, road tolls on Croatian motorways will be paid in a contactless manner and without the need for the vehicle to stop.
Among the key features of this new road toll collection system, which were officially presented yesterday at the Ministry of Maritime Affairs, Transport and Infrastructure, are the free passage of vehicles without stopping to make payments, toll payment through ENC or DSRC devices.
As Vecernji list writes, using ENC devices will become compulsory for large (heavy) vehicles, while light vehicle users will have the option to choose – toll payment by ENC or via the automatic reading of the vehicle’s registration plate. It is estimated that the implementation of the system, including the acquisition of all of the new technology, the construction of an automatic toll collection portal, the adjustment of existing trails and the removal of toll stations, will cost up to 570 million kuna in total.
The new system for Croatian motorways, without the need for major upgrades, should work effectively for at least fifteen years, and the return on this handsome investment is expected after a mere seven years of operation. As was explained during yesterday’s presentation, a large surplus of workers isn’t an expected result of the introduction of this new, more efficient system, as most cashiers will be transferred to other positions, such as to mobile teams which will control billing, control centres, and marketing and sales departments.
In order to introduce a new toll billing model, the Croatian legal regulation will of course need to be appropriately adjusted to allow for the change. First and foremost, this refers to the powers of the cashier who will be placed in the mobile units who will be responsible for discovering unpaid road tolls.
Therefore, in the aforementioned ministry, they are preparing a special Law on tolls by incorporating parts of the Misdemeanor Act and the Law on Roads.
The cachiers working in the mobile units would thus be given more powers which only inspectors currently have. The new law would also establish a shorter deadline for handling and charging for any violations.
The entire toll charge will be monitored at the control centres, and the mobile units will then catch those who have not paid their road tolls after having received an alert from the centre upon a vehicle’s exit from the motorway.
In addition, amendments to the Misdemeanor Act will also be initiated.
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