How does FasTrak™ work?

http://www.bayareafastrak.org/static/about/howit.shtml ^

[Cultural Jihad]

How does FasTrak™ work? As your vehicle enters the toll lane, the transponder (1) that is mounted on your vehicle's windshield is read by the antennae (2). As your vehicle passes through, your FasTrak™ account is charged the proper amount. Feedback is provided to you on an electronic display (3). If your vehicle does not have a transponder, the system classifies you as a violator and cameras take photos of your vehicle and your license plate for processing.

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There are eight bridges in the Bay Area which collect tolls. What percentage of the tolls goes to the employment of the toll-takers, I wonder? How much energy is consumed in waiting for one's turn to stop and fumble for the toll fare?

While anyone can go get a FasTrak transponder installed, those who do are still affected by the inefficient reticence of others to get one. What if the State of California were to encourage the installment of more transponders by changing the way it bills the users of these toll bridges? As it is, the State requires a prepayment of the transponder's toll fees. DMV could more easily just tack on a yearly assessment onto each vehicle's registration fee based upon the previous year's usage. If the registered owner fails to pay the full fee then their vehicle doesn't get registered again. A hefty discount could be offered for transponder users, while those who elect to not have one installed can help to pay for the costs of having the toll-takers employed to personally take their money. Over time there would be more FasTrak lanes and fewer toll-taker lanes.

Some decades ago there were toll booths in each direction. Drivers had to stop and pay coming and going. At some point CALTRANS removed the booths in one direction and doubled the fees in the other. The post-payment transponder system would be modeled after that idea, that the State will collect all its fees eventually, while improving on its efficiency in moving the traffic along.

[Xenophobic Alien]

So this whole post is to say that you don't like the fact you have to have money in an account to use the expresspay?

[Cultural Jihad]

Not at all. I was just commenting on how it could be designed and implemented with greater efficiency and less cost.