Fast Track to the Poorhouse

Southbound 101 has a toll lane 5 miles from our house..

FasTrak toll lanes have appeared on the Bay Area's busiest freeways, but the technology isn't up to speed. Penalties and interest pile up on drivers' unpaid balances, and thousands of cars have been put on "registration hold": [bold added]

Unpaid toll debts are surging since the Bay Area has eliminated cash payments on bridges and unfurled a vast web of express lanes.

Last June, the Bay Area Toll Authority, which oversees the seven state-owned bridges, said it would place over 550,000 drivers’ annual vehicle registration on hold over unsettled debts – with the bulk of registration holds starting this July. The decision ended a pandemic era of lax enforcement and started a renewed crackdown as the toll authority uses DMV holds to recoup tens of millions of dollars in tolls and even more in fines and fees.

One lady, Brenda Angulo, who is not blameless to be sure, ran up late payment penalties more than fourteen times the original charges:

The total Angulo owed to multiple express lane and bridge toll agencies was far worse, climbing to $43,590 made up mostly of late payment fees and other fines, tacked on to her original charges of about $3,000.

...Angulo’s debt underscores a complicated payment system for the growing network of Bay Area express lanes, which charge variable fees depending on the time of day and the length of a driver’s commute. Those lanes can easily whisk cars past traffic jams at a reasonable cost. But they can also lead to financial devastation for those who ignore — or don’t appreciate — how overdue toll debts can explode with late fees.

If a private bill collector behaved as the government does--assess penalties of $40,000 on an original bill of $3,000 and hold hostage a person's method of getting to her job--that collector would be figuratively tarred and feathered on social media as well as in newspapers and TV.

We voted for this draconian system that created a welter of toll roads on top of having the second-highest gas taxes in the nation. If we want someone to blame, we just have to look in the mirror.