Barrier-free tolling will come into effect from the middle of next year on the M50, meaning an end to the current toll plaza on the M50.
The concept is that the current barriers will be replaced by an electronic system that relies on microchips and digital imaging.
This equipment will be located high on a gantry close to the current toll plaza, which will be linked to a large IT system on the ground.
Regular users will be able to open up an account. They will then be provided with microchip cards to put on their cars. As the car passes under the gantry, the signal from the chip will be picked up, and the driver's account debited accordingly.
A separate system based on digital imaging will be used for drivers without an account. When these drivers pass under the gantry, details of their car registration will be picked up by the digital imaging system.
The driver will then have 24 hours to pay their toll - either on-line, by telephone or at various outlets which will sell the virtual tolls.
When paying for the toll, the driver will be expected to provide his car registration number, which will be matched up against the records of all number plates taken by the digital imaging equipment.
Those who fail to pay the toll within 24 hours will have to pay a higher toll rate.
Legislation has been passed allowing the toll operator to pursue legally any individual who fails to pay the toll.
The toll operator will have access to the national driver file, which has the name and address of each car owner and the car registration. Legislation has been introduced to make it an offence to refuse to pay the toll, and allows toll operators to pursue those who refuse to pay the toll through the courts.
The NRA remains unconcerned that the imaging of number plates poses a problem, pointing out that the technology is the same used to enforce the congestion charge in London.
While only one gantry is to be in operation, the system is being designed to be able to operate a series of gantries along the route, in anticipation that the whole route will eventually be tolled.