Fine to stop fraud: PLUS
> Long Journey Time penalty if motorists exceed travel time limits without valid reasons
PETALING JAYA: Toll expressway operator PLUS Malaysia Bhd has clarified that it has been imposing its Long Journey Time (LJT) fine on its highway users as a measure to prevent and resolve toll transit card manipulation activities.
In a statement issued by PLUS Malaysia on Tuesday, it said that the toll transit card manipulation activities are often carried out by some irresponsible motorists at several locations on the highway.
PLUS Malaysia said the decision was taken as records showed that manipulation activities were increasing every year.
“Among tactics used by the irresponsible parties include swapping, keeping and manipulating toll transit cards.
“To curb such activities, the LJT penalty had to be imposed on toll transactions where there is doubtful entry and exit on the highway which is calculated based on a set formula,” PLUS stated.
The highway concessionaire said the fine can be imposed on motorists based on an estimated travel time between toll booths, taking into consideration the speed limit on the route.
The fine also takes into account traffic congestion, accidents, vehicle breakdowns, all of which can contribute to motorists exceeding their set travel time limits.
PLUS Malaysia’s response came in the light of a consumer’s complaint which went viral on the social networks recently.
Facebook user known as Damar Wulan, who had posted his toll receipt on the social networking site, complained that his journey from Gurun to Pendang in Kedah on Oct 8 should only have cost RM3 but was charged RM9.40 instead.
In his posting, he claimed that the fine was imposed after he had spent more than 90 minutes at the Rest and Recuperation Area (R & R) in Gurun.
Clarifying the matter, PLUS Malaysia said the LJT penalty could only be imposed if the user fails to provide a valid reason or evidence to the toll attendant after exceeding the set time limits during the trip when making payment at the exit toll.