Orange Co. Toll Road Help

[MarkP]

When I was Porsche shopping (now on topic) in June, in Orange County, CA I got on the toll road somewhere around Costa Mesa and headed south. I took the road all the way until it connected to either 405 or I-5, I can't remember which, then on to San Diego.

I remember asking my wife to get some money out to pay the toll, but we never saw a toll booth and just went on our way.

Then this week I received a Notice of Toll Evasion from The Toll Roads ('because life's too short' is a stupid slogan). Anyway, Catalina View South Lane 12 = $33 fine.

What did I do wrong, where was the toll booth??? Should I contest this thing or just pay it?

Plus, I was in a rental car. I guess Hertz doesn't have to live up to any privacy standards like the rest of us in the business world

[pbs911]

You took the 73 Toll Road. Yes there is a toll booth, about 5 miles down from the 405/55/73 exchange. The last free exist heading south is Bison. You definately whent through the toll road if you ended up back on the 5 and in San Diego. Since they have Fasttrack passes the driver has the option of either going through the fasttrack lane or through the toll booth. I guess you could drive past the toll booth if you don't know the area, but they do have flashing lights and signs. They have cameras that take picks of the cars so you can ask for the date and time they contend you were on the road.

[CHILI]

I would give them a call. I used to work with a woman that was a Supervisor in their call center. She said they gave freebees a lot. But only one per person. A second violation would definatley be a ticket.

It's worth a shot...
http://www.thetollroads.com/home/index.htm

[surflvr911sc]

This is what I wrote before the other guys chimed in… I thought I'd throw it out there anyway.

Most of our toll roads don’t have booths. The ones that don’t have booths have “FastTrack only, no cash” signs. It’s a transponder that is connected to your account and paid via Credit Card. Some have both, if you don’t have Fast Track you need to go through he booth. If the sensors for Fast Track don’t pick up a transponder your license plate is photographed and the fine is sent. Obviously Hertz didn’t think they should pay it.

You could write a letter and apologize, they seem to be pretty lenient on first time offenders and if you explain that you are from out of state they might just let it go. If they don’t, you should pay it, otherwise you will be dealing w/ a collection agency.

[MarkP]

I'm sure we didn't drive through a toll booth, unless we stopped and paid. We made a few trips up and back using different routes and exits, I know we stopped at one, but....

I'll just call them. Thanks

[avendlerdp]

Harharhar- The "new" way they do tolls is to have a toll plaza off the freeway, "clearly" marked of course, and then a photo enforcement gate over the main lanes of the road. If you do not have a transponder device (purchased localy) you get photographed and recieve a citation. Some older 911's, with their downward facing front plate and overhanging rear deck lids, seem not to be identifiable in these photos so some of their owners may not be paying tolls or using a transponder either. I never evade tolls in my 1970 T though.

Some brave folks will ignore the mailed notice thus forcing the authorities to come serve you with the citation in person. Since a photo ticket is not given to you in person you have not promised to appear in any court (that's what your signature means on a regular ticket). Many times the manpower needed to serve the citations by hand causes them to give up. I never would use this technique either, of course.

Sorry you got nabbed and pox on Hertz for selling you out. I, like O.J., prefer Avis. You can get away with a lot....

Alex

[JP911]

To clarify, if you have the FastTrack transponder you don't need to slow down or pass through a toll booth. There is simply a structure that crosses over all three lanes of traffic with devices that detect your transponder (or photograph your license plate). This is different from many other states where a "fast pass" system has been implemented that allows pass holders to slowly pass through specially marked lanes that are regular toll lanes with the equipment to recognize the transponder. I guess the violation rules have changed, because under the old system they would just ask you to pay the toll amount. I once received a violation notice for $0.75.

[surflvr911sc]

This reminds me of a funny story…

My wife is a “never break the rules” kind of person. She was like that even before Air Force Pilot training.

We were heading down the 241 one time and decided to take it all the way to the end for the first time. She also likes to give exact change every chance she can. When we got to the end there was one last unmanned booth, $0.75. We only had $0.50 left. We must of sat there at the hole you throw the money into for five minutes while I tried to convince her that there was nothing we could do and she should just drive through and we’ll pay the fine when we get it (thankfully nobody else came up behind us).

Finally, she threw in the $0.50 for good measure and started to drive through at about 0.5 miles per hour. The alarms and camera started up as soon as we passed the line, she was mortified and even started crying as she looked out the back window at the booth. I couldn’t help but laugh, and you can imagine how that went over.

The funny thing is, we never received anything about it, but she was worried about it for months. I figure that most people blow right through those things and hardly slow down so the cameras are set up to get them were they’d be. Either the camera only got pictures of her looking back as she crept past and never got the plate or the people that review the pictures felt sorry for her.

I bring it up every time we drive on the toll roads to this day, still cracks me up.

[Jump2xs]

Mark, had a similar experience as you.
I called, offered to pay the toll (not the fine) and apologized. they accepted my offer. You see they don't want to piss off a potential customer.

[MarkP]

Yep, I called them and they said I was in the Fasttrack lane so there was no booth.

[Zeke]

Originally posted by MarkP
Yep, I called them and they said I was in the Fasttrack lane so there was no booth.

So, are they gonna stick you for the fine? Or are you off the hook.

[old-school]

I reached this thread from google while researching my toll violation at: "Catalina View South Lane 12". I am from Texas and had rented from Hertz for that fateful day. I too don't remember seeing any toll booth or sign. I was charged $60.50/= by Toll Roads and I was informed by a postal notification. I came on this forum and found about the 'concession' they give to first time violators. I called them and they reduced the amount to $30.50/= which I paid the same day to just get over it. The next day I received another postal notice from Hertz asking me for another $30/=. I felt it was a confusion but to my surprise they wanted $30/= on top of what I had already paid to the toll roads. Hertz call that 'administrative fee', and informed me that it will be charged automatically on my credit card on the due date.

The bottom line: I have paid $60.50/= after getting concession for a toll violation.

[ths911]

You can see the toll booths veer off to the right. You followed the yellow stripe through where the fastpass transmitters get picked up or in your case the photo of your lic. plate. In fact if you look at the north bound lanes you can see the cars lined up to pay the toll.

[kycarguy 935]

This same thing happened to me last April in Chicago when I went to pick up my 93 RSA.

I couldn't get my truck into the right cash lane. I asked the guy at the next toll gate about it and he advised that I pay the max. within seven days to avoid crazy charges.

When I got home I went ahead and paid the max. of something like $3.30 to avoid any problems.

[Ofishbein]

A similar thing happened to be this spring in OC. My GPS directed me on a toll road and I was prepared to pay the toll, but there were no signs that the booth was unmanned (there was a booth, just nobody in it). I couldn't pay with the coin basket because all I had was a $20 bill. I also couldn't really back up because it was quite a distance and other cars were coming behind me.

I received a notice in the mail for the toll - about a buck and half, if I remember right - and a penalty of over $100! Luckily, I spoke to someone on the phone who said I could mail in the $1.50 and they would forgive the fine.