Good Question: How will cashless tolling track snow-covered or peeling plates?

ROCHESTER, N.Y. (WHEC) — Soon, you’ll have just two options for driving on the New York State Thruway — pay with an E-ZPass or get billed through the mail based on the tags cameras capture on your car and your registration with the DMV.

The cashless tolling change coming this month leads to these messages News10NBC’s Brennan Somers is getting from viewers: Can those sensors read through the snow that builds up your car? Will they pick up drivers with peeling license plates?

RELATED | Good Question: How do I get an E-Z Pass?

State law puts the responsibility on you to make sure no one has trouble reading your plate, whether that’s brushing snow off in the winter or getting new ones.

A New York State Thruway Authority spokesperson told Somers, “It would be naive of motorists to think that they can bypass the Thruway’s cashless tolling system with a peeling license plate. Motorists should be fully aware of their responsibility to have clean and visible plates, and the New York State Police will enforce these vehicle traffic laws."

Thruway officials say there are several redundancies built in to track your trip no matter the weather. Equipment and sensors take several high definition photos from various angles of your plates on the back and front of your car to pick up your tag info.

This has all been used for several years now at seven fixed toll barriers on the Thruway, including the Gov. Mario M. Cuomo Bridge and the Grand Island Bridges near Niagara Falls.

If you have old tags, the state DMV will swap out your plates that are peeling for a new set for free. Learn more information on how to replace peeling or damaged license plates here.

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