The multi-camera traffic monitoring devices installed along German roads, better known as Blue Blitzers, are not intended for speed measurement but were developed for toll payment verification, writes autozeitung.de. The first such four-meter-high toll control columns were erected in 2018, initially only along highways.
Today, the Toll Collect system monitors traffic day and night along Germany's approximately 40,000 km of roadways and identifies vehicles that have failed to pay the toll. These new types of blue columns are much more cost-effective and modern and take up significantly less space compared to the previously used toll bridges spanning traffic lanes, which, moreover, were only limitedly applicable on federal roads. In addition, they better integrate into the overall landscape. The cameras integrated into the column take multiple pictures of the relevant vehicle, and if the system detects a lack of toll payment, the procedure is automatically initiated.
One characteristic of the devices is that they never flash, and their blue paint clearly distinguishes them from speed cameras, which are usually painted in more noticeable colors. It's important to know that since August 1, 2024, the toll payment obligation limit has been reduced from 7.5 tons to 3.5 tons in Germany, and vehicles used for road freight transport also pay tolls, regardless of whether they are carrying cargo or not. However, this regulation still does not apply to motorhomes.
