You are from out of state so no big deal. They have more than one "can't read plate, give up" events per day.
It is a third party billing system. Pay if you want, if you never plan to go back, or are getting up in years then….
It can be a pain, this mailed bill, for those traveling. They mail the bill and expect payment from a traveler in two weeks. So, if you are traveling for several weeks (obvious if you are from the other side of the country) then you must pass through toll, ad then immediately return home (pass toll again) so you can receive the bill to pay it on time. $35 is not unusual for a late fee.
I have heard of people returned home and found multiple bills from the same state with over $70 in late fees already mailed. They eventually quit mailing them.