Member Article

Serial toll evaders at Tyne Tunnels given final notice

As the launch of open-road-tolling at Tyne Tunnels passes its two-year anniversary, operator, TT2, is thanking customers for embracing the change and extending an outstretched hand to a cluster of serial toll evaders – offering them one last chance to settle their debts.

Nearly 98 percent of over 19 million annual journeys are paid for on time without issue but there are tunnel users who don’t pay their tolls. These include some who have used the tunnels hundreds of times without paying - from large companies, to SMEs, to members of the public.

One particular driver has made upwards of 1,100 journeys without paying and a company has created a debt of well in excess of half a million pounds through thousands of unpaid tolls.

A two-year review of Tyne Tunnels’ data since the launch of open-road-tolling revealed a positive overall picture including quicker journey times and record levels of vehicles using the tunnels.

The river crossing was used by over 19 million vehicles over the past year* – compared to just over 17 million the previous year – which is an 11.7% uplift. 

Journey times have improved, with the average journey in October 2023 being 35 seconds faster southbound, and 46 seconds faster northbound since before the switch to open-road-tolling. 

The percentage of people not paying their toll has reduced from 5.39% in the first month of open-road-tolling to 2.84% in November 2022 - falling further to 2.20% in November last year.

TT2 has today (14 Feb 2024) announced it will launch a four-week amnesty period starting on Monday 19 February. Drivers who have received a county court judgement (CCJ) for un-paid tolls and have not settled their debts will be sent a letter giving them four weeks to pay or TT2 will apply to the court for a writ to seize goods.

Adrian Wallace, CEO at TT2, said this small group of repeat offenders are not being fair on the majority paying customers and the region’s taxpayers. 

He said: “We always knew that such a big change to the payment system would take some time to get used to, but thankfully the vast majority of customers have done so. But more than two years since the introduction, we have a number of drivers who deliberately - and in many cases – consistently, use the tunnels without paying.

“If we do not enforce non-payment of tolls, inevitably it will be the people who do pay their dues to the public purse that has to bear the burden of this. We will be tough on the group of people who simply resent paying, so don’t pay.”

The Tyne Tunnels are private roads that do not benefit from centrally-funded maintenance, refurbishment, or operational support. Tolls are collected on behalf of the North East Combined Authority, to cover the cost of the operation and maintenance of the tunnels, as well as the debt repayments due for the construction of the second tunnel.

When an unpaid toll charge notice (UTCN) is issued the motorist has 14 days to pay a £30 charge + the toll; it then becomes £60 + the toll when it reaches 15-28 days at which point the driver is also sent a reminder to pay. If no payment is made by 28 days, the charge rises to £100 + the toll and is then sent to a third-party debt collector. Unsuccessful attempts to recover payment at this stage may result in relevant court proceedings being initiated. Motorists who receive a UTCN can register an appeal by following the guidance published on the TT2 website (www.tt2.co.uk).

*Figures cited cover the 12 months from November 2022 to November 2023.

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by TT2 .