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Toll Free for SF/Oak bay bridge.

Discussion in 'Gen 2 Prius Main Forum' started by lenkun, Apr 15, 2007.

  1. lenkun

    lenkun New Member

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    Hey guys, I found out that with the HOV stickers on your hybrid, you can cross the SF/Oak bay bridge toll free during carpool hours. I've been using it for the past 3 months and now recieved my quarterly statement from fastrack. There was no charges for using the carpool lane during the past 3 months after I got my HOV stickers early in the year.

    DMV and Fastrack said the HOV stickers only allow you to use the carpool lane solo, but does not waive the toll. However, if you use the far right carpool lane, there is absolutely no toll. I am talking about the far right carpool lane that's to the right of the other carpool lane where one splits into 3. I drive to SF from Richmond and coming from interstate 80. I use the far left carpool lane on 80 and that lane will take you to the from the far left to the far right after Emeryville and then you continue on and use the carpool lane on ramp which looks like an exit, but that one is actually not an exit, but another carpool lane. And best of all, that one is TOLL FREE!.
     
    #1 lenkun, Apr 15, 2007
  2. F8L

    F8L Protecting Habitat & AG Lands

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    I regularly travel from Fairfield to Oakland and back and I always see HOV stickered cars with solo drivers going through the Carquinez Bridge carpool lane and not paying fees. Even late at night when the carpool lane is not active. How does that work out?
     
    #2 F8L, Apr 15, 2007
  3. cwerdna

    cwerdna Senior Member

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    <div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(lenkun @ Apr 15 2007, 05:27 PM) [snapback]423773[/snapback]</div>
    I don't take any of the bridges much, but maybe you'll find yourself some nasty tickets in the mail or you've maybe discovered a glitch in their system? It sounds like you're breaking the law from http://www.bayareafastrak.org/static/about..._hybrid.shtml#1, http://www.bayareafastrak.org/static/about..._hybrid.shtml#7 and http://www.bayareafastrak.org/static/facilities/sfob.shtml.
     
    #3 cwerdna, Apr 15, 2007
  4. lenkun

    lenkun New Member

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    I don't think it's a glitch nor am I violating the law since I've seen many other solo drivers of hybrid vehicles with HOV stickers doing the samething everyday. I think it's because the bay bridge is so conjested, they want to ease the traffic backup by allowing just one special lane for commuters from interstate 80 to cross toll free over the bay bridge.

    If it's a glitch, I am sure they've caught on already. It's quite obvious. However, people coming from 580 and 880 will have a difficult time to use this special lane which seems to be exclusive for interstate 80 commuters. There are also posted sign saying that 3 people/2 people with 2 seater/HOV sticker vehicles may use this lane to cross the bridge. The only difference between this carpool lane and the rest of the other carpool lanes is that there are no machines installed to scan the transponder when crossing, thus no toll were charged. One of my co-worker has been using it for half a year already and there wasn't any charge from CalTran, Fastrack, nor any ticket violations and never showed up on any of his statements from Fastrack.

    I think each bridge may have a special lane similar to this one at the Bay bridge just like what the previous member said about the Vallejo bridge.
     
    #4 lenkun, Apr 16, 2007
  5. lenkun

    lenkun New Member

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    Ok, I've included a picture of the San Francisco/Oakland Bay Bridge with the HOV lane highlighted. Using this lane will save you $4/day or $1040/year if you commute everyday to work Monday through Friday. I don't know why only this HOV lane waives the toll and not the others.

    The Prius saves:
    1. Time because using the carpool lane will speed up your commute.
    2. $3150 of tax credit.
    3. 60/51 MPG (Saves gas)
    4. $1040/year on bridge toll
    5. Saves mother Earth.

    Now I just need to find out the rest of the bridges, especailly the Golden Gate bridge where they charge you $5 for each toll.
     

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    #5 lenkun, Apr 17, 2007
  6. ceric

    ceric New Member

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    lenken,

    It is not a glitch. It is stated in official web page. It is free only within the designated hours.

    >> excerpt<<
    Carpool -
    Any 2-axle vehicle, without trailer(s), carrying three or more persons, may cross toll-free in designated lane(s).

    Monday through Friday between 5 a.m.- 10 a.m. and 3 p.m.- 7 p.m.

    Note: Any motorcycle, bus, inherently-low-emission vehicle (ILEV) with DMV-issued decals, or 2-axle vehicle, without trailer(s), designed by the manufacturer to be occupied by no more than two persons, carrying two persons, may also cross toll-free in designated lane(s) consistent with the above referenced hours of operation.

    >>> link
    http://www.bayareafastrak.org/static/facilities/sfob.shtml
     
    #6 ceric, Apr 17, 2007
  7. zqfmbg

    zqfmbg New Member

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    <div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(F8L @ Apr 15 2007, 05:45 PM) [snapback]423778[/snapback]</div>
    They're required to have special FasTrak transponders identifying the car as hybrid, and outside of the free hours, they're charged normal tolls. At least, I think that's right.

    (edit) What the heck??? How did that get doubled???
     
    #7 zqfmbg, Apr 17, 2007
  8. lenkun

    lenkun New Member

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    Yes, they charge toll outside of the designeted hours. What I am saying is that you can cross the bridge toll Free even under these situtitions within the carpool hours:

    1. Hybrid vehicle with HOV stickers.
    2. Just one person in the vehicle (driver only).

    What I first thought is that with the stickers, you can use the carpool lanes, but still charges you the usual toll of $4 when crossing the bridge if you don't have the required number of passenger(s) in your vehicle. I believe that's what it's suppose to. But by using that lane I stated above, you don't have to pay the toll at all even if you are crossing the bridge by yourself in your Prius with the DMV stickers.

    This is from the Fastrack's FAQ section:

    "I have a hybrid vehicle. Can I drive in the designated HOV/carpool-only lane even if I am driving across the bridge by myself?

    Yes. Qualified single-occupancy hybrid vehicles are permitted to use dedicated High-Occupancy Vehicle (HOV)/carpool lanes in the Bay Area during designated carpool hours, if these vehicles are displaying the distinctive sticker issued by the Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV). However, unlike HOVs, which are allowed to drive toll-free across the toll bridges during designated carpool hours, single-occupancy hybrid vehicles registered in the Bay Area must still pay tolls when driving across the Bay Area toll bridges in an HOV/carpool lane. " - http://www.bayareafastrak.org/static/about/faq_hybrid.shtml
     
    #8 lenkun, Apr 17, 2007
  9. MarinJohn

    MarinJohn Senior Member

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    I'm interested in the Golden Gate Bridge and similar 'freebies'. Due to a glitch in the transponder system I was issued 4 HOV stickers for the outside of my car, but never a transponder. Therefore, I always go thru the 'pay' lanes and pay cash. However, about 4 months ago I was driving alone and 'forced' into the transponder lane by being cut off from the 'pay' lane. I had no choice but to breeze through the fastrack lane (without transponder). I immediately went to the bridge office and attempted to pay the toll in person at the desk after telling them how I was cut off from the 'pay' lane. They would not take my money and told me in a few weeks I would get a fine in the mail. I was told to respond to the fine in writing explaining the situation. After 4 months I still haven't received any correspondence regarding my 'illegal' use of the fastrack lane. Does any one know if the GGBridge has a mysterious 'freebe' lane like the OP points out on the Bay Bridge? Have I been needlessly paying to cross the GG Bridge? Do the GG 'violator' cameras actually work?
     
    #9 MarinJohn, Apr 18, 2007
  10. moxiequz

    moxiequz Weirdo Social Outcast

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    I don't know about the GG in particular but a friend of mine had a situation similar to yours only on the Bay Bridge. She got "trapped" in one of the outside fastrack lanes (and she didn't have a transponder). That was about 6 months ago and she has yet to receive a ticket.
     
    #10 moxiequz, Apr 18, 2007
  11. cobra94563

    cobra94563 Junior Member

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    <div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(lenkun @ Apr 15 2007, 11:02 PM) [snapback]423841[/snapback]</div>
    You may be getting away with something there... B)

    On the left side carpool tolls, it will register your transponder - and you pay the toll. If there is a sign that says its ok for hybrids to use the right lanes, it is in contradiction to the fastrak intent (the right side and the other bridge toll systems), but if it's a mistake on their part ... take advantage of it.

    My wife goes over the dumbarton - charges $4 each day. A co-worker unknowing of the rules, kept the fastrak in the baggy for months and never was charged, nor got a ticket or stopped.
     
    #11 cobra94563, Apr 18, 2007
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