Going to get a bit cynical now.
When there were manned booths, everyone had to pay the £1.50 (in a car).
Now, everyone except people with weird number plates - foreign etc, has to pay , but, if they don't pay within a certain time limit they have to pay a fine about £50 I think. Which means that they charge everyone the same money (except a very few people), but quite a few get charged a shitload more. The weird number plate people, some will be traced and will also have to pay the fine. Result - they make more money.
When there were manned booths, they had to employ workers to man the booths.
Now they don't need them, no pensions, no employer tax contributions, no sick pay obligations. Result - they make more money.
Plus, wasn't there an agreement that once the QE11 bridge was paid for by the money the tolls generated, the crossing would be free, to ease the traffic flow? The government welched on this deal once the cost of the bridge was met, because of the revenue generated by it. Didn't they then sell it to a private company for a massive price therefore ensuring that it would always cost money to cross?
Bastards the lot of them.
Just for info, I only have to use the crossing about 10 times a year, I just feel sorry for the poor people who have to use it every day.