Q: How will the toll lanes on I-85 know to bill me when I am by myself and let me travel free when there are two or more people in my car?
-- Frank Louzek, Atlanta
A: Once a customer opens a Peach Pass account, he or she will need to place the Peach Pass sticker tag on the inside windshield or bumper mounts, according to the State Road and Tollway Authority. The sticker tag sends signals to the customer's account and deducts the appropriate toll amount when the customer uses the lane. Customers who open a personal toll account can change their "toll mode" at least 15 minutes before entering the express lanes. For example, if a customer has a three-person car pool during the week, he or she can designate the toll mode to "toll-free" status so the customer is not charged a toll when using the express lanes. However, if the customer does not have three or more people in the vehicle at any point and wants to use the express lanes, that person's toll mode status will need to be changed to "toll" at least 15 minutes before entering the express lanes, SRTA spokeswoman Malika Reed Wilkins wrote to Q&A on the News in an e-mail. The toll mode can be changed as often as needed, or even set to "indefinitely." A law enforcement officer will be alerted if the sticker tag is in "toll-free" mode. If a law enforcement officer observes fewer than three people in the vehicle, the customer runs the risk of being pulled over and fined, Wilkins wrote.
Lori Johnston wrote this column. Do you have a question about the news? We’ll try to get the answer. Call 404-222-2002 or e-mail q&a@ajc.com (include name, phone and city).
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