As used in this article, the following words shall have the following meanings:

(1) AUTHORITY. The Alabama Toll Road, Bridge and Tunnel Authority, as defined in Section 23-2-142.

(2) DEPARTMENT. The Department of Transportation.

(3) ELECTRONIC TOLL COLLECTION. A method of collecting tolls or charges which is capable of charging an account holder the appropriate toll or charge including, but not limited to, either of the following:

a. The transmission of information from an electronic device on a motor vehicle to the toll system, which information is used to charge the account the appropriate toll or charge.

b. The transmission of license plate information from a photo-monitoring system to the toll system, which information is used to charge the account the appropriate toll or charge.

(4) ELECTRONIC TRANSMISSION. Any process of communication not directly involving the physical transfer of paper that is suitable for the retention, retrieval, and reproduction of information by the recipient.

(5) LESSOR. Any person, corporation, firm, partnership, agency, association, or organization renting or leasing vehicles to a lessee under a rental agreement, lease, or otherwise wherein the lessee has the exclusive use of the vehicle for any period of time.

(6) LESSEE. Any person, corporation, firm, partnership, agency, association, or organization that rents, leases, or contracts for the use of one or more vehicles and has exclusive use of the vehicles for any period of time.

(7) OPERATOR. Any person who is or was driving a vehicle that is or was the subject of a toll violation, but who is not the owner of the vehicle.

(8) OWNER. Any person or entity who, at the time of a toll violation and with respect to the vehicle involved in the violation, is the registrant or coregistrant of the vehicle with the Motor Vehicle Division, of the Department of Revenue, or with another state, territory, district, province, nation, or jurisdiction.

(9) PAYMENT. Paying a toll by cash, by permitting a charge against a valid account with the authority, department, or private toll entity, or by any other means of payment approved by the authority, department, or private toll entity.

(10) PHOTO-MONITORING SYSTEM. A vehicle sensor installed to work in conjunction with a toll collection facility which automatically produces one or more photographs, one or more microphotographs, a videotape, or other recorded images of a vehicle at the time it passes through a toll collection point. Information obtained by a photo-monitoring system may be used to charge the account of an account holder or to identify violations of toll collection regulations.

(11) PRIVATE TOLL ENTITY. An individual, group of individuals, partnership, corporation, limited liability company, association, or any other legal entity licensed pursuant to Section 23-1-81 or Section 23-2-144(12), to operate toll collection facilities.

(12) TOLL. Charges prescribed by the authority, department, or private toll entity for the use of any toll road, bridge, causeway or tunnel under the jurisdiction of the authority or department or under the ownership or operation of a private toll entity.

(13) TOLL VIOLATION. The passage of a vehicle through a toll collection point without payment of the required toll.

(14) VEHICLE. Any motor-propelled device in, upon, or by which any person or property is transported or drawn upon a road or highway, except devices used exclusively upon stationary rails or tracks.