This week's 'Ask Evan' deals with PA turnpike toll plaza pictures. Ken T asks, "There are no license plates on the front of PA cars, so why take a picture of the front of the car?"
Photos are actually taken of the front and back of each vehicle that passes through a PA turnpike toll plaza. The license plate information is instantly compared to the E-ZPass database to verify that the vehicle passing through has an active and up to date E-ZPass account to be charged.
Front photos are taken of vehicles even though cars registered in Pennsylvania and other states do not require front license plates. The front facing cameras are primarily for commercial vehicles. A tractor-trailer cab is owned by the operator-- not always the trailer. So, the Turnpike Commission invoices the cab owner for violations and toll bill-- not the trailer plate or owner of the trailer. That's why you see the front camera snapping pictures.
If you have questions you'd like to ask send me an email at AskEvan@FOX43.com. Put 'Ask Evan' in the subject line. You can also reach out to me on Facebook at Evan Forrester FOX43. Whatever the topic I'll do my best to track down answers you are looking for.
