Driver Keeps Getting Fined By Toll Firm Because He Has Two Very Similar Number Plates

A personalised number plate mix-up at a tolling booth has left an irate motorist out of pocket.

Bob Long owns a fleet of vehicles with personalised plates, but two in particular are causing confusion when he drives through the Dartford Tunnel, which connects Essex and Kent.

The 63-year-old jeweller regularly drives his Jeep, which has the number plate “1 ONG” into Hatton Garden in London on business.

When he does so, he is supposed to pay the automatic Dart Charge for crossing the tunnel.

However, instead of taking the £2.50 fee from his bank account, ANPR cameras are mixing the licence plate up with another vehicle he owns - a classic Fiat 500 with the plate “10 NG”.

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Because the Fiat isn’t registered to Dart Charge, he is issued with a £70 penalty.

Mr Long, from Bungay in Suffolk, said: “Ever since I set up an automatic payment system on my Jeep to make my life easier I’ve been getting these charges.

Mr Long and the two vehicles causing the confusion.

“I thought every time I go through, a camera would just take a picture and the money is taken from my account and I don’t have to think about it, but it is all messed up.

“What is happening is that when I go through with my Jeep its registering it as my other car and I’ve been getting penalty notices.”

Mr Long has received three penalty charges recently and each £70 notice rises to £150 if not paid within a certain time limit - meaning he could face a bill of £450.

After complaining, he was told to register but cars, but he said: “Why should I go through the hassle of doing that, the problem is with their system for not picking up the right licence plate, it is in’t my fault.

One vehicle has the plate “1 ONG”, the other “10 NG”.

“But I don’t understand, I’m doing everything totally legal, I could understand if I moved the digits closer together but they are spaced correctly, as they should be, as the DVLA require.”

He bought the “1 ONG” plate for £18,000 a few years ago and paid £35,000 for the Fiat 500 which came with the “10 NG” plate.

A Highways England spokesperson said: “We are aware of Mr Long’s situation.

“Our review team did check each of his crossings at the time and ensured that they were allocated to the correct vehicle.

“Unfortunately, a technical fault occurred which meant that the penalty charge notices were still generated in error.

“We have investigated the error, the notices have now been cancelled, and an apology is on its way to Mr Long.”

(Pictures: SWNS)