CHAPTER 17. ROADS AND HIGHWAYS.

ARTICLE 16D. ELECTRONIC TOLL COLLECTION.

§17-16D-2. Definitions.

The following words and phrases have the following meanings when used in this article:

(1) "Authority" or "Parkways Authority" means the West Virginia Parkways Authority established by article sixteen-a of this chapter.

(2) "Division" means the Division of Highways of the West Virginia Department of Transportation, except where another division is clearly identified.

(3) "Electronic toll collection" means a system of collecting tolls or charges that has or includes the capability of charging an account holder, owner or operator of a vehicle for the prescribed toll:

(A) By electronic transmission of information between a device on a vehicle and a device located in a toll lane or otherwise used at a toll collection facility; or

(B) By means of a video collection system.

(4) "Owner" means any person in whose name a motor vehicle is registered under:

(A) Article three, chapter seventeen-a of this code;

(B) The laws of another state;

(C) The laws of a foreign county; or

(D) The International Registration Plan.

(5) "Toll collection facility" or "toll facility" means any facility, including all related structures, equipment, systems and software, used in connection with collecting or charging tolls for a toll road, highway or bridge in this state, regardless of whether the facility is located on, over or adjacent to the toll road, highway or bridge and regardless of whether the facility has toll lanes with toll booths and toll collection equipment that require passing vehicles to stop or slow down in order to pay a toll or uses additional or different methods, structures, technology and equipment in order to charge or collect tolls from some vehicles passing under or by the facility at highway speeds: Provided, That any such facility shall have the ability to accept cash for the payment of tolls.

(6) "Toll road" means any road, highway or bridge in this state upon which there is a toll administered, collected and enforced by the Parkways Authority or on behalf of the Authority.

(7) "Video collection system" means a vehicle sensor, placed in a location to work in conjunction with a toll collection facility, that automatically produces a videotape or photograph, microphotograph or other recorded image of the front or rear portion, or both front and rear portion, of each vehicle at the time the vehicle is used or operated on the toll facility in order to charge or collect tolls or detect violations of this article. This phrase includes, without limitation: (A) Any other technology which identifies a vehicle by photographic, electronic or other method; and (B) all related toll invoices, billing notices and other toll collection and violation enforcement efforts made using any such technology and information.