DARTFORD CROSSING

For those who drive down via Dover / channel tunnel and then head north / south over the Dartford crossing on the M25 you will be interested to know that the tolls have been replaced with a prepay or pro pay system similar to the conjestion charge in London.
When you cross, the toll booths will have gone and number plate cameras record your vehicle details. You must then make the appropriate payment by midnight the following day, unless you have organised a prepay account via the website. Payments can also be made in your home town at payplus outlets, either before or after your crossing.
I have just found out about this and am about to travel down, so just in time to avoid a hefty fine for not knowing.

It is a crazy system and will probably cause problems for so many

really confusing for tourists will they be able to chase up none UK cars who don't pay

how many jobs have been lost?

at least we know now

It's already been said they wont chase up foreign cars for the Un-paid fee due to the problem in catching them / cost involved in getting the money back...Is this why the charge has gone up another 50 pence to cover this.

Also said on the news the other night they expect to fine up to 4000 drivers a day the £70.00 each for not paying.

If you do go down that way look out for the number plates with a small piece of gaffer tape on them. 

With respect one or two are missing the point - it's about reducing the traffic congestion - and it seems to work.

If you use the Thames crossing regularly you'll know that it invariably involves a 10/15 minute delay if you are lucky - sometimes it can be a 3 or 4 mile tail back taking an hour or so to get through.  Then it's usually an open road, which proves it's just the delay of each car stopping to put their money in the bucket that's caused the delay.  So for me it's a good move.

You can pay the toll online up to midnight on the day after you use it, so not a problem if you didn't know at the time.

It makes a lot of sense.  People will get used to it.  I don't care if a few don't pay.  I do feel sorry if job losses are involved, but we have a social system to protect them.  But in the future it'll be one less traffic jam to contend with .

It was anticipated that the tolls would be removed on 1 April 2003 under the original PFI scheme contract. However, the Highways Agency decided that the tolls would become a "charge", under a charging scheme under powers introduced by the Transport Act 2000 to introduce charging schemes on any trunk road bridge or tunnel at least 600 metres (2,000 ft) in length

And when this crossing was built it was going to be free when it was paid for!! HAHAHAHAHA..

Not in Rip Off Britain.

Yes, chaddyowl your correct once paid for it would be free....And pigs might fly.

It's estimated that about 160,000 cars use it every day now, thats £400,000 approx., probably go up if better traffic control, also if true and they did manage to fine 4,000 drivers a day thats another £280,00 a day, plus the savings on wages for the people they sacked, and they have kept very quite about the £10,00 you can pay to get a reduced fee, which also isn't as quite as good as it seems to be.