Starting in January, cash will no longer be accepted for tolls on the Creek Turnpike at the Peoria and Elm interchanges.
Oklahoma Turnpike Authority is switching to license plate scanners, so drivers who don’t have a PikePass will also be able to drive right on through the toll gates. Those drivers will be mailed an invoice in about five business days.
"It increases our safety factor at a toll booth like this, where we don't have motorists who have to stop and look for change," said OTA spokesman Jack Damrill.
OTA will use the Peoria and Elm ramps as a pilot program to see whether the program, dubbed "PlatePay" should be used at other toll gates. They're trying to push more cash customers toward getting a PikePass.
"With that, they will save a substantial amount of money, because the rate for an invoice statement compared to a PikePass customer will be substantially more," Damrill said.
OTA isn't worried about a rash of former cash customers deciding not to pay because of state laws regarding turnpike violations.
"We do have options in to put stop flags on license plates if they don't pay that violation, so we have similar legislation in place to protect us on down the road if someone fails to pay that invoice," Damrill said.
The switch to PlatePay at the Elm and Peoria toll gates will be permanent.
