Despite efforts to convince expressway users to apply for electronic toll collection (ETC) accounts and keep them topped up, not everyone seems to have received the memo. This is why the Toll Regulatory Board has decided to put its foot down by allowing toll operators to charge erring drivers who supposedly make life difficult for those who comply.

These are the fines for motorists without serviceable ETC devices:

• First offense – P1,000
• Second offense – P2,000
• Each succeeding offense – P5,000

For those with insufficient credits in their accounts, these are the penalties:

• First offense – P500
• Second offense – P1,000
• Each succeeding offense – P2,500

Anyone caught using fake or fraudulent ETC devices will be charged as follows:

• First offense – P1,000
• Second offense – P2,000
• Each succeeding offense – P5,000

It would be wise to go and check your tags and account balances now as strict enforcement will begin on August 31. As for the malfunctioning scanners and related equipment that also cause congestion at expressway entry and exit points, we’ll have to wait and see if the toll operators can effectively deal with that.