James D. Tuton, American Traffic's president, said that his company would share its database of PlatePass members - and their license plate numbers - with toll authorities.

Each toll authority would eventually handle its own deployment of the electronic equipment, which could cost up to $50 million.

The percentage is about twice that of other toll authorities in the nation.

Under the proposal, the toll authorities will owe nothing for eight years.

It says the International Bridge, Tunnel and Turnpike Association cannot identify a single toll authority in the world that arms its collection force.

If the toll authority is a private company there is often a maximum amount of fees that they may extract from users.

By any toll authority outside of Texas.

Right now, Glancy said, "the toll authorities give tolling records to law enforcement just upon request."

More than $100 million worth of contracts are at stake - possibly more, if toll authorities elsewhere in the nation adopt similar systems.

The results of the studies came in December 1968, but due to an uncertain bond market and an unknown future for the toll authority, decisions on the roads were delayed.