Cameras pointing at the backs of cars on I-540? (airport, license plate)

[Ed_RDNC]

Immediately west of the airport on southbound I-540, at mile marker 2.4 just before going under the Globe Road overpass, there is an overhead sign frame that has a traffic advisory sign and a sign that says "Exit 2 - Airport Pkwy - RDU Airport - Exit Only."

This sign can be seen in the Google Streets view: Google Maps

Some time in the recent past, there appeared two or three TV cameras and flood lamps, hung off the bottom of this sign and obviously aimed to view the backs of cars that pass under this sign.
They do not show up on the Google Streets, so they are newer than Google's drive by.

This is NOT a traffic cam, as there are several nearby, but on much taller supports. Their images show that they are much higher off the road. Also, from the NCDOT website, I can see only one traffic cam in this area, and it is about a half mile north, right at Lumley Road.

Does anybody know why "Big Brother" is interested in ID'ing every southbound I-540 car? Or what else these could be used for?

[frankpc]

I'm not sure what you saw, but I believe the Toll Boys were doing some testing recently. From the "how tolls will be collected"
"How will tolls be collected?
Tolls will be collected without the use of toll booths or otherwise stopping to pay a toll. Instead, customers are identified while traveling at highway speeds through free-flow “toll zones.” To pay their toll, customers can use transponders which are radio-frequency tags that users affix to their windshield and are read from overhead gantries. Customers who choose not to use a transponder are detected at toll zones where a picture of their license plate is taken. These customers pay their tolls by establishing a pre-paid account or receiving a bill in the mail. There will also be a facility near the project that will accept cash payments"

Frank

[Sherifftruman]

I bet it is a long term test of the Toll collection system for Triangle Expressway. I know when they did their initial trials before the award, some of the suppliers had issues due to our plates having various colors and backgrounds. even though they setteled on a final company and awarded it already, it would be smart to do a long term test to make sure everything is dialed in as there is no backup once the road opens. Seems like those signs are about the same height as what they will use on teh toll road so it would work well. I know I would do that if I were running the project anyway.

[Beermat]

yes it is the testing of the camera installations for the 540 toll system

Testing under way on N.C. toll road cameras :: WRAL.com

[Ed_RDNC]

Thanks for the response. I had guessed it had to be something like that, as the cameras and their flood-lamps were all pointed at the backs of cars, and didn't appear to be permanently mounted.

I guess it makes sense to test and tune an optical reader system for identifying car tags for tollway billing.