What happens if I drive through a bridge toll crossing without a valid FasTrak account?
Failure to pay the established bridge toll is a violation of California's toll evasion statutes. Toll evasion violations will be enforced. If you drive through a toll location without a valid FasTrak toll tag or a License Plate Account, you will receive an invoice in the mail. An image of your license plate will be captured, and an invoice will be sent to the vehicle's registered owner at the address on file with the California Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) within 21 days of the bridge crossing. If you don't pay your invoice by its due date, you will receive a violation notice.
The following is a schedule of toll invoice and penalty due dates:
State-owned bridges (Antioch, Benicia-Martinez, Carquinez, Dumbarton, Richmond-San Rafael, San Francisco-Oakland, San Mateo-Hayward)
| Initial Toll Invoice | Toll amount only (if paid within 21 days of receipt) |
| First Toll Violation Notice Issued | Unpaid toll + $5 penalty per crossing |
| Second Toll Violation Notice Issued | Unpaid toll + $15 penalty per crossing If toll is paid within 15 days of the second notice, the penalty will be reduced to $5. |
Golden Gate Bridge
| Initial Toll Invoice | Toll amount only (if paid within 21 days of receipt |
| First Toll Violation Notice Issued | Unpaid toll + $25 penalty per crossing |
| Second Toll Violation Notice Issued | Unpaid toll + $70 penalty per crossing. If the toll is paid within 15 day of the second notices, the penalty will be reduced to $25 |
Is there a penalty waiver program for low income customers?
Starting July 1, 2023, BATA and the Golden Gate Bridge District have instituted a policy for lower-income residents to receive a waiver for any penalties assessed due to late or missed bridge toll payments that happened between March 20, 2020 and January 1, 2023. The low-income COVID waiver program was created by Assembly Bill 2594, and will apply to the Golden Gate Bridge and the seven state-owned bridges (Antioch, Benicia-Martinez, Carquinez, Dumbarton, San Francisco-Oakland Bay, Richmond-San Rafael and San Mateo-Hayward). The waiver does not apply to Bay Area Express Lanes.
To receive the low-income toll penalty waiver, drivers who have a household income of no more than 200 percent of the federal poverty level (approximately $62,500 for a family of four) must call FasTrak at 877-BAY-TOLL (877-229-8655) to make a request to participate in the program. Waiver recipients will be required to pay any tolls or fees charged by the Department of Motor Vehicles for vehicle registration holds due to the non-payment of penalties.
What happens if I use a Bay Area Express Lane without a valid FasTrak account?
Failure to pay the established express lane toll is a violation of California's toll evasion statutes. Toll evasion violations will be enforced. If you use an express lane without a valid FasTrak account you will receive a notice of toll evasion. An image of your license plate will be captured, and a violation notice will be sent to the vehicle's registered owner at the address on file with the California Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) within 21 days of the toll violation.
The following is a schedule of penalties:
- First Toll Violation Notice Issued: Unpaid toll + $10 penalty due (if paid within 21 days of receipt)
- Second Toll Violation Notice Issued: Unpaid toll + $30 penalty. If the toll is paid within 15 days of the second notice, the penalty will be reduced to $10.
How do I pay my violation penalty?
After FasTrak mails a violation notice to the vehicle's registered owner, the owner can pay as follows:
- By credit card, either online or by phone at 877-BAY-TOLL (877-229-8655).
- By check or money order (made out to "Bay Area Toll Authority") via US mail (return envelope included with invoice or violation notice).
- With cash at one of hundreds of local cash payment locations.
- At the in-person counter at the FasTrak Customer Service Center.
I have a FasTrak toll tag, but I still received a violation notice in the mail. Why did this happen?
There are several reasons that could explain why you received a violation despite having a FasTrak toll tag:
- Your toll tag may not be working. Please call the Customer Service Center at 877-BAY-TOLL (877-229-8655).
- The license plate of your vehicle may not be listed in your account. Add your vehicle license plate and backdate the start date to ensure proper tolling. This will automatically remove the violation penalty by adding the charge for the toll to your account.
- Your FasTrak account balance may be negative. This can happen if you haven’t added enough money to your account or if the credit card you have on file has expired. A customer service representative can assist you with adding funds to your account and may be able to waive the violation penalty.
I received a letter from a collection agency (Professional Account Management, LLC) regarding outstanding violations. Who should I contact if I have a question about it or want to file a dispute?
If you have a dispute or question about a letter you received from Professional Account Management, LLC (PAM) regarding outstanding violations, you will need to contact the collection agency directly. The FasTrak Customer Service Center is unable to assist you.
You can reach Professional Account Management, LLC by calling 866-424-9136 between 6:00 am and 3:00 pm. If you call after hours, you can leave a voicemail message and an agent will return your call during normal business hours. You can also contact them by mail at:
I do not agree with the Administrative Hearing decision, Is there anything else I can do?
If you do not agree with the decision, you may fill out the {administrative review form} and send it to our address FasTrak Violations PO Box 26925, San Francisco, CA 94126. The Administrative Review hearing will be conducted within 90 calendar days from the receipt of your Request for Administrative Review.