Pilot Hit With $835 Bill After Landing On Hwy. 407 Without A Transponder

By Scott Slute

Markham - Following mechanical failures, a pilot was forced a pilot to make an emergency landing in the eastbound lane of Hwy. 407 earlier Wednesday morning. Despite the plane only traveling 118 metres, the 407 ETR says they still plan on billing the pilot $835 for using the toll road without a transponder.

“Regardless of the situation, the 407 is a pay-to-drive highway. There are no exceptions to that rule,” 407 ETR representative Chuck Fitzgerald tells us, “Let this be a lesson to all Ontarians. If you want to avoid this in the future, keep your transponder in your vehicle at all times It’s as simple as that.”

Though the trip itself will only cost the pilot $2 based on the distance travelled, the 407 plans to charge a $833 “camera fee”, as the plane was not equipped with a transponder. Due to the wingspan, the plane falls under the “extra extra wide vehicle” category which draws the hefty price tag.

York police are currently investigating as they suspect the mechanical issues may have been faked in an attempt to enter the highway while avoiding the toll cameras. Penalties for this type of fraud include a $5000 fine, and a permanent ban from the 407, forcing commuters to take the 401 like a regular poor.

Scott Slute is the Editor in Chief at The Toronto Harold