What happens when the scanner machine does not read your FASTag ID on the toll?

What is a FASTag Scanner?

FASTag scanner is a device installed at the toll plazas across Indian National Highways. The scanner enables you to pay the toll tax without stopping your vehicle. It allows you to make cashless toll payments while you drive your car through the FASTag designated lane at the toll booths. The FASTag scanner reads the FASTag card affixed on the windscreen of a vehicle through RFID technology and automatically deducts the toll tax directly from the wallet or prepaid account linked to the FASTag account.

How does the FASTag scanner work?

FASTag scanner works on the principle of Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) technology.

What is RFID?

Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) is a versatile technology that uses radio frequency signals to read and transmit data. This wireless system consists of two components � tags and readers. The reader has one or more antennas that emit radio waves and receive signals from the RFID tag. A reader can be a mobile or a device that can be mounted on a post or overhead. Tags use radio waves to communicate their identity and other information to nearby readers. Tags can be active (powered by batteries) or passive (powered by the readers and do not have batteries). RFID tags can store massive amounts of information. FASTag is a passive RFID tag.

How is FASTag scanned?

• When a vehicle drives through the ETC lane of a toll plaza, the scanner reads the FASTag sticker on the car's windscreen and captures the FASTag details like Tag ID and vehicle class.
• The system then sends the FASTag details to the acquiring bank for processing.
• The Tag ID is then validated through specific procedural steps.
• After successfully validating Tag ID, the appropriate toll fare is calculated, and a debit request from the linked account is initiated.
• The tag holder receives an SMS alert for the tax deduction.

What happens if the scanner machines do not read the FASTag at the toll plazas?

Sometimes, the FASTag card affixed on the windshield of a vehicle is not read by the scanner machine at the toll plazas. It could be that the FASTag is blacklisted for some reason or that the scanner machine is faulty and fails to read the tag. In the former case, the car owner can pay the toll tax in cash. However, if the FASTag for a car is valid and functional and is still not read by scanners at toll plazas, the car owner need not pay any toll. The toll fare is exempted in such cases, and the car is allowed to drive through the toll plaza free of cost.

What to do if the FASTag stops working?

If a FASTag has stopped working at toll plazas, it could be that it has been blacklisted. Several reasons can lead to the blacklisting of a FASTag.

• Insufficient balance.
• If the tag doesn't have sufficient balance, it will likely be blacklisted. In such cases, the customer should recharge the tag as soon as possible. The user can pay the toll tax in cash when driving through the toll plazas.
• Blacklisting by a law enforcement agency

In case of any violation, such as the vehicle-tag class mismatch, non-affixation on the screen, or frequent rule-breaking, the tag may be blacklisted by any law enforcement agency. In such cases, the customer needs to find out which agency is blocking the FASTag and request for the unlisting of the tag from the block list. If the problem persists, customers should call the issuer bank customer care toll-free number and get the reason for the blacklist of their FASTag.

Few points regarding FASTag

• If you reside within a 10 km range of a toll plaza, you can avail a concession on FASTag. You need to submit the required documents to verify the address.
• The prices of FASTag vary depending on which Point-of-sale (POS) location you choose to buy the FASTag.

Conclusion

FASTag is an electronic toll collection system active across Indian National Highways and some State Highways. It uses Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) technology to make automatic toll tax payments from the linked wallet or prepaid account. FASTag is a vehicle-specific card and can only be used for a particular vehicle. Once purchased, it can be recharged as per usage. One can also avail FASTag Monthly Pass.

If the scanner at a toll plaza fails to read a valid and functional FASTag, the user is exempted from paying toll tax and can drive through the toll plaza free of cost.