Toll Roads

NEW -> Contingent Buyer Assistance Program
Interesting. I've been without transponder since they introduced the new system and haven't been flagged yet. The other thing I noticed is even with transponder at some booth locations, it doesn't beep. The camera still flashes reading your plate.
 
Okay, just read the Fastrak FAQ page:
https://www.thetollroads.com/ontheroads/commonquestions/fastrak.php

Do I have to mount my FasTrak transponder on my windshield?
Yes, FasTrak drivers must have a transponder mounted to their vehicle's windshield in order to pay the lowest tolls on The Toll Roads - $1 less than ExpressAccount and One-Time-Toll drivers at every tolling location. Motorcyclists should keep the transponder in a secure location.
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What does "pay by plate" on my statement mean?
"Pay by plate" means that your transponder was not read and your account was identified by reading an image of your vehicle's license plate. If you are receiving "pay by plates" often, check to see if your transponder is properly mounted. If your transponder is properly mounted and you continue to receive "pay by plates," then you may need a replacement transponder. You can request a replacement transponder online. Once logged in to your account, use the "Transponder Info" tab to submit your request. Accounts with excessive "pay by plate" transactions may be assessed a $2 fee per transaction.
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So it does look like the transponder is the key to the discount. If you do too many "pay by plate" transactions, you may get assessed a fee.

This makes sense as it's probably easier to charge you via the transponder than it is to do the plate recognition.

So if you use the tolls regularly, it makes sense to have the account and even if you don't, if you make at least 24 trips throughout the year, that pays for the $2 monthly account fee.
 
As long as you have the transponder account, you should get the discount.  The transponder system does not work 100% of the time.  I've seen some flash for cars ahead of me and then not mine, and on the same route going the same speed, flashes and beeps on another toll location. 

I'm not too sure about that 24 trips a year, that could be a grandfathered account.  The oldest ones are free, then there's that frequency thing to be free, I thought all the new ones get charged the $2 fee no matter how frequently you use?
 
Just read the faq, need to have $50 worth of tolls in a month to be free of that $2 fee
 
AW said:
I'm not too sure about that 24 trips a year, that could be a grandfathered account.  The oldest ones are free, then there's that frequency thing to be free, I thought all the new ones get charged the $2 fee no matter how frequently you use?
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You get charged the $2/mo if you don't do $25 in tolls that month.
Are there any monthly fees associated with having a FasTrak account?
A $2 account maintenance fee is charged to each transponder that does not incur $25 in tolls on The Toll Roads that month. This policy is based on a combined average; so, if a patron has two transponders with a monthly total of $50 in tolls on The Toll Roads, even if one transponder has no usage and the second has all $50, the $2 fee is waived for both.
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So over a year that's $24. But if you take the toll roads 24 times in a year, which saves you $1 per trip, it washes.
 
irvinehomeowner said:
Do I have to mount my FasTrak transponder on my windshield?
Yes, FasTrak drivers must have a transponder mounted to their vehicle's windshield in order to pay the lowest tolls on The Toll Roads - $1 less than ExpressAccount and One-Time-Toll drivers at every tolling location. Motorcyclists should keep the transponder in a secure location.

What does "pay by plate" on my statement mean?
"Pay by plate" means that your transponder was not read and your account was identified by reading an image of your vehicle's license plate. If you are receiving "pay by plates" often, check to see if your transponder is properly mounted. If your transponder is properly mounted and you continue to receive "pay by plates," then you may need a replacement transponder. You can request a replacement transponder online. Once logged in to your account, use the "Transponder Info" tab to submit your request. Accounts with excessive "pay by plate" transactions may be assessed a $2 fee per transaction.
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Hmmm. Maybe I should put my transponder back.  But I've never been accessed an excessive fee despite using pay by plate 100x each month for the last 6 or so months.  I do use a bay area fastrak account so wonder if that makes a difference.
 
So what are your guys final verdict/conclusions on transponder etc?

How does portola spring residents have all the fun w/o paying the tolls?
 
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