Bay Area Fastrak question

[Muse]

My Fastrak transponder came with white velcro. I "installed" it behind my rear view mirror on the front windshield where it wouldn't bother me (not notice it while driving). It fell off eventually. Put it back... it fell off again. A few months ago I applied contact cement to the Velcro and to the windshield, let dry 20 minutes, pressed to the glue on the windshield. Voila. Fell off again a couple weeks ago. It's now sitting on top of my dash, where one day it will fall on the floor.

So, I'm wondering... Will the transponder work as required if it's just sitting on the dash? (I hardly ever cross a bridge, so haven't tried it.) Obviously I can defeat gravity if it's on the dash, even glue Velcro it to the dash! But will it work??? The car's a 1997 Mazda coupe.

 

[SKORPI0]

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[ElFenix]

Y'all still use plastic boxes? Join the 21st century!

 

[Muse]

Y'all still use plastic boxes? Join the 21st century!

Duh, I gots what I gots. There's somethin' else? Have to pay for it? WTF.

Edit: Sonic.net is going to install an ONT plastic box so I gets GB fiber in a few weeks. If I want their GB, I need their plastic box.

Edit: Why should I think either of the Amazon offerings won't also fall off my windshield?

 

[Muse]

So, what happens if I drive through a bridge toll station with my Fastrak responder sitting ON MY DASH?

 

[Brainonska511]

So, what happens if I drive through a bridge toll station with my Fastrak responder sitting ON MY DASH?

Should be fine - they're radio frequency transponders; they should still be read. That's why you're supposed to put it in the silver bag when you don't want it to be scanned (I need to do this every time I go through NY, since I have both a NY transponder and a MA transponder; both give discounts to tolls only in their respective states).

I see people with the EZ-Pass transponders on their dash, nestled up where the windshield meets the dash.

I've never had an issue with the velcro falling off or not sticking.

 

[Muse]

That's why you're supposed to put it in the silver bag when you don't want it to be scanned

I've never had an issue with the velcro falling off or not sticking.

I don't believe I was given a "silver bag" when I ordered this from the authority. Where can I get one or the material with which I can make my own (I have a sewing machine)?

My car sits in my driveway facing the sun. I suppose that's why my transponder keeps detaching from the windshield.

 

[Brainonska511]

I don't believe I was given a "silver bag" when I ordered this from the authority. Where can I get one or the material with which I can make my own (I have a sewing machine)?

My car sits in my driveway facing the sun. I suppose that's why my transponder keeps detaching from the windshield.

I think you can just wrap it in foil if you don't want it read. You may be able to get one from the agency that issues the tags too. It's not something you would sew - it's kind of like some of the bags that computer parts come in.

As for the latter issue - I've relied on street parking/outdoor lot for 2 years now with the sun beating down all the time - never had one fall off. But I guess YMMV.

 

[uclaLabrat]

You honestly dont even need the transponder, if they snap your plate when going through and realize you have an account, they bill you just the same.

 

[Jerem]

I don't believe I was given a "silver bag" when I ordered this from the authority. Where can I get one or the material with which I can make my own (I have a sewing machine)?

My car sits in my driveway facing the sun. I suppose that's why my transponder keeps detaching from the windshield.

The bag is mylar. Used to be able to get one free from Fastrak. I see a link in Google but I don't see it when I visit the page

"
How FasTrak Works - VTA


https://www.vta.org › getting-around › using-express-lanes › how-fastrak-w...
If you need a new Mylar bag, call Bay Area FasTrak® at 1-877-229-8655 and speak with a customer service agent. If your FasTrak® transponder was not in its..."

 

[zinfamous]

I always kept mine in the arm rest storage and took it out briefly when passing through the Bay Bridge toll, and put it back. Never checked if it worked while still in the storage, though I always meant to...

 

[spacejamz]

You honestly dont even need the transponder, if they snap your plate when going through and realize you have an account, they bill you just the same.

I would double check if they tack on any administrative fees if they aren't able to read the tag on the vehicle...

In Dallas, they do tack on the charge and it is much higher...on the chart below, rate on the left is with a tolltag, rate on the right is when they bill you based on your license plate...They don't automatically check to see if you have an account but you can call them and they will usually adjust it to the toll tag price if you have an account.

 

[zinfamous]

yeah, here in MD it's a $2-3 charge for snapping your plate and sending you the bill, on top of the toll. It's goddamn ridiculous.

 

[BoomerD]

I'm surprised the tech-savvy Bay area still uses the boxes instead of these:

Just a simple sticker that you put on your windshield.

they DO have a "boxy-thing" for those who use their good-to-go account for morethan just bridges:

Seems retarded to have to slide the chingadera from one to the other though...just read the fucking chip and apply it as needed.

 

[deadlyapp]

I'm surprised the tech-savvy Bay area still uses the boxes instead of these:



Just a simple sticker that you put on your windshield.

they DO have a "boxy-thing" for those who use their good-to-go account for morethan just bridges:



Seems retarded to have to slide the chingadera from one to the other though...just read the fucking chip and apply it as needed.

Not sure if the boxes in bay area have the multi-mode yet, they had it in Los Angeles though since the toll varied depending on occupancy. Here in Texas/Houston they just have separate lanes for HOV and Toll. Just different ways to skin the cat.

 

[Muse]

You honestly dont even need the transponder, if they snap your plate when going through and realize you have an account, they bill you just the same.

They'd bill my Fastrak account? Would I even find out if that happened?? Is that done automatically without human intervention?

 

[Muse]

Pretty nutty system, I can't get the hang of it all. Boxes, velcro that doesn't work. Maybe it will work ON THE DASH, don't know. I could put it there when going through a toll gate (if I remember).

Glad that BART is going to readable cards identifiable by personal account and automatic update of balance (which I have). Those paper cards were a serious PITA. I still have some of those in my cabinet with balances... I suppose I should use them while I can.

Edit: Whoa! I had no idea Fastrak cared how many people were in your car!!!

 

[spacejamz]

You honestly dont even need the transponder, if they snap your plate when going through and realize you have an account, they bill you just the same.

does that only work at the Golden Gate bridge toll plaza? or does it work at other locations?

 

[BoomerD]

Golden Gate Bridge is (or used to be) a different tolling authority than the rest of the bay bridges, but I'd suspect they all have very similar tech.

 

[JulesMaximus]

Contact Fastrak, they will send you replacement velcro strips for free. It seems that when you adhere them to the dash and the vehicle sits in the hot sun for a while the adhesive gets soft and the transponder will fall off. Try to put them on when it is cooler out and don't park the vehicle in the hot sun for a few days after if you can help it.

 

[WhiteNoise]

works fine sitting on the dash. I used to just toss it on my dash all the time. Never had an issue.

 

[Muse]

Contact Fastrak, they will send you replacement velcro strips for free. It seems that when you adhere them to the dash and the vehicle sits in the hot sun for a while the adhesive gets soft and the transponder will fall off. Try to put them on when it is cooler out and don't park the vehicle in the hot sun for a few days after if you can help it.

I back into my driveway to make driving out easier. I can go straight in and leave it there a few days. I sometimes don't drive at all for a couple weeks at a time (bicycle and rollerskate).

 

[BoomerD]

I back into my driveway to make driving out easier. I can go straight in and leave it there a few days. I sometimes don't drive at all for a couple weeks at a time (bicycle and rollerskate).

Found ya!

 

[deadlyapp]

They'd bill my Fastrak account? Would I even find out if that happened?? Is that done automatically without human intervention?

Yes.
The same way they send tickets to people who don't have fastrak they can use to bill your account since your account is linked to your license plate.

Crossing the Benicia bridge I was 50/50 transponder or just license plate.

 

[spacejamz]

Yes.
The same way they send tickets to people who don't have fastrak they can use to bill your account since your account is linked to your license plate.

Crossing the Benicia bridge I was 50/50 transponder or just license plate.

based on what I saw yesterday, it does charge $1 extra everytime you use your license plate instead of the toll tag ($6 instead of $5 - probably not a big deal if you are a bay area baller)...