Q. Hi Honk. I received a toll violation notice from the 91 Express Lanes concerning four tolls from last month. The tolls were for about $20 in total, but the bill, which we received in the mail, is now for $119.75 because of supposed violations. That shocked me. I called up and was told the officials had no record of us. But we keep an old transponder in the glove box, and I put it on the windshield when we went to Texas Roadhouse in Corona – they have good steaks. I did think to myself, “I didn’t hear the beep” from the transponder being picked up by the system. We got the transponder about 20 years ago and used it regularly in the beginning. I made several calls and was told our account had been canceled last year because we hadn’t used it for a while. But I never got a notice about that, and if I had, I would have driven around the toll roads a bit to keep the transponder active. I don’t mind paying the tolls, but $120? Can you help a 78-year-old fix this?
– Joanne Caldara, Tustin
A. Let’s see here if Honk can help.
Because she traveled on two legs of the 91 Express Lanes, each operated by a different government, she got billed twice each way. They say she didn’t have an active FasTrak account, so they dinged her a $25 penalty for each of the four legs traveled.
“If a driver does not have an active account, we will then contact them through the address on file with the DMV,” Megan Abba, a spokeswoman for the Orange County Transportation Authority, which is one of the involved governments, told Honk in an email.
And charge the vehicle owner, Joanne in this case, for the tolls and the penalties.
But some good news, Joanne.
“If someone does not have an active account, they can contact customer service and request a one-time wavier from the agencies that should eliminate approximately half the tolls and penalties,” Abba said.
It appears Joanne opened up her FasTrak account way back when with The Toll Roads of Orange County for use on the 73, 241, 133 and 261. Well, apparently following state law, her account was canceled at some point for having no activity for three years. Although different governments oversee the different clusters of toll bridges and toll roads, offering different prices and discounts, they all use the state-mandated FasTrak system.
Representatives with the Orange County Transportation Authority, and The Toll Roads, said you should have been told, Joanne, that your account was being canceled.
“We encourage all accountholders to periodically call The Toll Roads Customer Service Center or log in to check their account to ensure the most current mailing address, billing information and vehicles are listed,” Michele Miller, a spokeswoman with The Toll Roads, told Honk in an email. “Accessing your account keeps it active in the system.”
Better news?
“We are happy to reach out to your reader to reinstate her account and resolve the outstanding violation charges,” Miller said.
Q. If I already have personalized license plates and I trade in my car for a new car, can’t the dealer immediately transfer my personalized plates to my new car, instead of using the temporary, paper license plates?
– Wally Roberts, San Clemente
A. Probably not.
You would need to fill out an application, called a REG 17, and wait for the Department of Motor Vehicles to OK reassigning the plates. So expect to leave the dealership sporting the temporary plates and count the days until you get the go-ahead to display your personalized plates again.
HONKIN’ FACT: In the early days of the Model T and its famous assembly line that he wanted to keep efficient, Henry Ford said: “Any customer can have a car painted any color that he wants so long as it’s black.” By 1926, other colors were offered and they would include blue, red, gray and green. (Source: corporate.ford.com.)
To ask Honk questions, reach him at honk@ocregister.com. He only answers those that are published. To see Honk online: ocregister.com/tag/honk. Twitter: @OCRegisterHonk
