HOV Toll Fines

[ctwo]

I was watching the toll lane sensors. They have a number display that briefly shows a 1, 2, or 3 depending on how the flex pass is set. Some vehicles pass an no number is displayed. I suspect they do not have a flex pass and are sent a toll bill similar to the ones I've received for going over bridges, at a more expensive rate or with some additional processing charge.

I noticed a sign that said minimum HOV fine $490. I was wondering how that works because if one drives in the toll lane, they need to pay the full toll, 2 occupants pay half, and 3+ occupants do not pay any toll.

So who is paying the $490+?

 

[cheez]

If you are driving in the HOV/toll lane with your transponder set to 2 or 3 and there's only 1 (or 2) of you in the vehicle, CHP pulls you over and cites you the $490. If they see you. Every so often they surveil the HOV/Toll lane gantries for this purpose

 

[TheRiddler]

If you are driving in the HOV/toll lane with your transponder set to 2 or 3 and there's only 1 (or 2) of you in the vehicle, CHP pulls you over and cites you the $490. If they see you. Every so often they surveil the HOV/Toll lane gantries for this purpose

There's generally officers assigned to this task specifically every day. It's an overtime detail so rather than taking officers off the road, it adds more.

 

[ctwo]

OK. I paid my FasTrak tax. I will never intentionally pay a toll, unless there is no other choice.

"Please make sure you set the start time prior to your toll crossing to ensure the violation clears to your account."

I don't want any violations...

 

[KooLaid]

I need one of those hov tags, I've only got the old style without switches, like 4 of em lol

 

[cal scott]

I need one of those hov tags, I've only got the old style without switches, like 4 of em lol

Just call FastTrak and they will send the updated transponders to you, super easy. Just recently requested two and they came within a couple of days. They are a lot smaller and lighter now so I don't even notice it in the pocket of my suit.

What is completely ludicrous is the need for a motorcycle to carry one at all in the toll lanes given that we are free irrespective of the number of 'occupants' .

 

[cheez]

Just call FastTrak and they will send the updated transponders to you, super easy. Just recently requested two and they came within a couple of days. They are a lot smaller and lighter now so I don't even notice it in the pocket of my suit.

What is completely ludicrous is the need for a motorcycle to carry one at all in the toll lanes given that we are free irrespective of the number of 'occupants' .

There is no need.

They will tell you it's the only way to ENSURE that you get billed appropriately.

Their system, however, automatically marks vehicles registered as Motorcycle as High Occupancy. If your plate is read, and it's a plate registered as a motorcycle, it is _always_ billed at the HOV rate (free, today.)

I never carry transponders on the bikes, I ride Fastrak Flex from 580/Vasco to Crow Canyon on my way to SF FiDi every business day, and on the way back every day. Never, ever billed. Not even once. The only time I get billed is in the wife's jeep with the switch set to 1. I get billed at the HOV rate on the bridge and have ridden past CHP at the bridge gantries and waved as I rode past. Never a transponder on me.

YMMV, just try it. If it works, keep doing it. If not, it's a $1.65 or whatever experiment cost, right?

 

[rcb78]

There is no need.

They will tell you it's the only way to ENSURE that you get billed appropriately.

Their system, however, automatically marks vehicles registered as Motorcycle as High Occupancy. If your plate is read, and it's a plate registered as a motorcycle, it is _always_ billed at the HOV rate (free, today.)

Not entirely true. I started carrying a transponder when my commute changed to put me on the 85/101 express lane. I started carrying the transponder that we used to keep in our car, still set to 2. I got dinged for a half price toll that corresponds to 2 people and my bike had been registered with them for nearly a year before that time. I noticed the setting when I got to work and sure enough when I checked a few weeks later the charge was there.
I don't really care because it was cheap, but I did find a way to screw it up.

 

[cheez]

Not entirely true. I started carrying a transponder when my commute changed to put me on the 85/101 express lane. I started carrying the transponder that we used to keep in our car, still set to 2. I got dinged for a half price toll that corresponds to 2 people and my bike had been registered with them for nearly a year before that time. I noticed the setting when I got to work and sure enough when I checked a few weeks later the charge was there.
I don't really care because it was cheap, but I did find a way to screw it up.

Yup. If you have a transponder, it is billed, and the plate is never read.

 

[Kornholio]

What Dan said. I've commuted via moto in the 880 toll lanes since the day they opened with no transponder while riding and have never received a single charge. When I use the cage, the billing occurs as expected depending on what the rate was at the time I was using the lane. I pass the usual CHP observing spots with officers there all the time while on the moto and have never once had an issue either. There's absolutely no reason for you to carry a transponder while riding in those lanes regardless of whatever bullshit FasTrak tries to convince you of. Just leave it in your cage(s).

 

[krackajak]

I was fined, via camera, for riding a moto in the HOV lane with no transponder.

I think it's ludicrous, but went ahead and bought a Fast Trak. motos shouldn't be required to have an account, which costs $25, to "not" be charged.

Happy to provide proof and open to any successful stories of how people rebutted this. In the meantime, I'll just keep it set to 3.

 

[cheez]

I was fined, via camera, for riding a moto in the HOV lane with no transponder.

I think it's ludicrous, but went ahead and bought a Fast Trak. motos shouldn't be required to have an account, which costs $25, to "not" be charged.

Happy to provide proof and open to any successful stories of how people rebutted this. In the meantime, I'll just keep it set to 3.

Is the vehicle registered as a motorcycle?

https://codes.findlaw.com/ca/vehicle-code/veh-sect-21655-5.html

California Code, Vehicle Code - VEH § 21655.5
Current as of January 01, 2019

(a) The Department of Transportation and local authorities, with respect to highways under their respective jurisdictions, may authorize or permit exclusive or preferential use of highway lanes for high-occupancy vehicles.  Prior to establishing the lanes, competent engineering estimates shall be made of the effect of the lanes on safety, congestion, and highway capacity.

(b) The Department of Transportation and local authorities, with respect to highways under their respective jurisdictions, shall place and maintain, or cause to be placed and maintained, signs and other official traffic control devices to designate the exclusive or preferential lanes, to advise motorists of the applicable vehicle occupancy levels, and, except where ramp metering and bypass lanes are regulated with the activation of traffic signals, to advise motorists of the hours of high-occupancy vehicle usage.  A person shall not drive a vehicle upon those lanes except in conformity with the instructions imparted by the official traffic control devices.  A motorcycle, a mass transit vehicle, a blood transport vehicle that is clearly and identifiably marked as such on all sides of the vehicle, or a paratransit vehicle that is clearly and identifiably marked on all sides of the vehicle with the name of the paratransit provider may be operated upon those exclusive or preferential use lanes unless specifically prohibited by a traffic control device.

https://dot.ca.gov/programs/traffic-operations/hov

Who Can Use HOV Lanes?
Motorcycles, mass transit, and vehicles with two or more (2+) occupants are allowed to access the HOV lanes during their operational hours. An "occupant" is defined as any person who occupies a safety restraint device, i.e., seat belt.

 

[Kornholio]

Perhaps they misread the plate. I can assure you that they likely didn't even bother to look at the photos. We used to have company trucks (all Fords) that would supposedly get cited because they misread the plate and even though the pictures were clearly of a different kind of vehicle, we still would get the notice in the mail that we and an HOT or bridge toll violation. FasTrak doesn't even bother to review the veracity of the data they're taking in sometimes.