With the test-run for the freeway Electronic Toll Collection (ETC) system scheduled to begin at 2pm on Friday, the Consumers' Foundation (
"People have no obligation to pay extra money to install on-board units [OBUs] for ETC use unless the government dares to enact such a law, which would mean levying more taxes," said Terry Huang (黃怡騰), the nonprofit organization's secretary general, at a press conference.
Currently, small cars passing through toll booths are required to pay NT$40 (US$1.24) each time, using either cash or tokens. To use the ETC service, users have to install OBUs. The unit itself costs NT$1,180 with batteries included, and installation costs NT$175. A deposit of NT$200 is also required for the integrated circuit card in the OBU.
Due to the pricey fees, the installation rate has been low.
As of yesterday, only about 30,000 vehicles had OBUs installed, although another 20,000 have been registered and are ready for installation, according to Far Eastern Electronic Toll Collection Co (
That number means the system is sure to miss the usage rate demanded by the government in the initial stages of implementation in order to justify the allocation of two lanes at every toll booth for the system's users. The government had set a threshold that 4 percent of all cars passing through a given toll booth should have and use an OBU unit to pay tolls.
The foundation lambasted the foolish policy, arguing that it harms the rights and interests of a majority of drivers, who will be forced to suffer more traffic jams on highways.
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