The Bay Area Toll Authority will try to collect more than $180 million in unpaid bridge tolls, about $50 million comes from unpaid tolls and $130 million in late fees, after its Oversight Committee voted to crack down on more than 400,000 drivers.
The plan is approved and people with outstanding fees to their name are expected to receive notices in the mail soon.
State Assemblymember Phil Ting, D-San Francisco, said in a statement Thursday that Bay Area drivers should not be penalized because BATA chose to remove their operators from the tolls at Bay Area bridges as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic.
“The Bay Area Toll Authority should have identified these drivers sooner to provide earlier notice and create payment plan options … the switch to using technology to pay tolls has disproportionately impacted drivers who don’t have debit or credit cards. Now many drivers who rely on their vehicles for work or to bring their kids to school may face not being able to renew their DMV registrations,” Ting said.
Ting said he is glad to see that BATA plans to use elements from his Assembly Bill 2594, which allows low-income communities to set up payment plans. But he urges BATA to adopt other reforms in the bill to ensure Bay Area drivers can be treated “fairly and equitably.”
After toll collectors were removed from the bridges, drivers could pay either electronically with a FasTrak toll tag, a one-time online payment process, or receive a notice by mail if they don’t have a transponder.
However, the system didn’t account for notices that were lost in the mail or sent to the wrong address, according to Ting’s office.
Ting also calls on express lane and toll roads agencies to offer a cash payment option, cap fines and late fees, establish payment plans for both fines and penalties, and set a minimum time period to pay fines before car registration is suspended for nonpayment.
He said the DMV must notify people to change the address on their vehicle registration for their driver’s license. Consequently, car rental agencies would be required to provide customers with information about toll agencies’ charges and payment options, Ting said.
Yet another display of one of California’s elected morons thoughts. Treating Bay Area drivers “fair and equitably” means everyone pays, especially those who owe tolls and penalties. Stop making excuses for people, it’s their responsibility to ensure their bills are paid and not the nanny governments.
That’s the word I was looking for – Excuses – will they never end making excuses for irresponsible people?
That seems to be the norm now, blame others.
This guy was elected to make excuses .
It clearly states you will get a bill. Prepaid Visa card not hard to get, use that to pay the bill if you don’t have a credit card or go to Walgreens to pay it.They give you plenty of time to pay too. I accidentally got in the wrong lane and didn’t have fast trac at the time, I got the bill went to Walgreens, paid the bill and got my fast trac.
Well they don’t have to pay for tolltakers any more.
“the switch to using technology to pay tolls has disproportionately impacted drivers who don’t have debit or credit cards.
Not a true statement. BATA mails the toll notice to the person via their vehicle registration, without penalty fees. That’s what happened to me.
“Now many drivers who rely on their vehicles for work or to bring their kids to school may face not being able to renew their DMV registrations,” Ting said.”
True. That’s why you pay the toll on time.
Typical illogical politician.
Now, I wonder if BART will try to collect unpaid fares.
55% of voters thought higher tolls were good when they voted in favor of RM3. We are all eating the cake they ordered. Let Ting chew on that.
And those that don’t use the bridges voted for the higher tolls….
Just like the people who don’t pay taxes always vote to raise them. I find it amusing that the people who pay ZERO income tax are always complaining that the rich don’t pay their share.
Not being able to renew their registration won’t matter in a few months when fuel is scarce and expensive as gold.
It is mostly people that think they can get away without paying. Get a Fastrak. It isn’t hard to get a debit card I had one in High School with almost no money in my account. Stop acting like people don’t have the ability to do super simple tasks. Most poor people aren’t as pathetic as the Government acts like they are.
So Ting believes BATA removed the toll collectors due to the Wuflu? No Phil, they were removed to save money through automation. Funny how the Wuflu was used as an excuse to stop whether temporarily or permanently so many things in our society.
It is time to end the states cash cow here and now and end bridge fares.
90 Billion dollar surplus in demofornia ?
All this bridge fare money is going elsewhere and not directly to road and bridge repair.
Plus all the gas tax money being collected and not used to fix our roads.
WHAT A SCAM.
Why are they still charging for bridge toll? Now they are charging to drive on the freeway? Right! Only in CA
This is not just in CA. NJ had toll roads at least from the fifties. VA has added tolls onto their highways. States meet and share ways to collect more money from its residents.
Can afford a motor vehicle, the insurance, registration and gasoline, but won’t pay the toll. Oh, also live in low-income communities.
I think I know who that is.
Just like any other debt, pay what you owe.
There is no excuse.
Be responsible.
Definition
responsible adjective
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re·spon·si·ble | \ ri-ˈspän(t)-sə-bəl \
Definition of responsible
1a: liable to be called on to answer
b(1): liable to be called to account as the primary cause, motive, or agent
a committee responsible for the job
(2): being the cause or explanation
mechanical defects were responsible for the accident
c: liable to legal review or in case of fault to penalties
2a: able to answer for one’s conduct and obligations : TRUSTWORTHY
b: able to choose for oneself between right and wrong
3: marked by or involving responsibility or accountability
responsible financial policies
.
You used the bridge.
.
PAY UP NOW.
Well, aren’t bridge tolls racist anyway?
And surely anti-transportation and trans- gender.
They “seek” to collect unpaid fees. I have a feeling they are going to do a lot of seeking and not much collecting……..