[ad_1]
The first increase took effect in 2019 and the third will take effect in 2025.
There is a legal challenge to Senate Bill 595 and Regional Measure 3 pending in the California Supreme Court, so the increased toll collected will be placed in an escrow account managed by an independent administrator until that the dispute is resolved.
According to BATA, revenues from the previous toll increase in 2019 are also being held in receivership.
Meanwhile, the agency announced on Wednesday that fines for toll violation notices will be reduced for anyone who has received them at the region’s seven state-owned toll bridges since early 2021.
BATA said the penalty for first notices of violation will immediately drop from $ 25 to $ 5, and the penalty for second notices of violation will drop from $ 70 to $ 15.
People who have paid penalties dating back to January 1 will receive a refund from February 2022, according to the toll authority.
The changes, approved by BATA in October, are part of its toll fairness action plan announced earlier this year.
Other changes to be implemented later in 2022 include lowering the cost of a FasTrak toll sticker deposit for those who do not link their account to a $ 20 credit card to $ 5 and reducing the cost of a FasTrak toll sticker deposit. Minimum opening balance for a FasTrak account for customers paying cash or check from $ 50 to $ 25.
BATA encourages anyone using the bridges to open FasTrak accounts that automatically deduct toll amounts from their account and allow them to avoid violation notices and penalties. People can register by visiting www.bayareafastrak.org or calling (877) 229-8655, or by purchasing the FasTrak labels at select Costco and Walgreens stores.
People can also open a license plate account which links a license plate to an account and allows people to pay a toll online up to 30 days before crossing a bridge or within 48 hours after crossing a bridge. follow.
People who do not have either option are required to return invoices with payment within 21 days or will receive the now reduced penalties on new invoices.
Those who fail to refund the payment after the second notice can ask the DMV to suspend their vehicle’s registration or return the amount owed to a collection agency, according to BATA.
[ad_2]