Carpools (2+ people), vanpools, motorcycles, and other toll-exempt vehicles may travel toll free with a FasTrak Flex or FasTrak CAV toll tag. To travel toll free, set the switch on the face of the tag to match the number of people in the vehicle (motorcycles should set the switch to 3+).

How does FasTrak know if you are a carpool?

The antennas track the vehicle and transmit its path to a computer that contains individual vehicle accounts. After a vehicle exits the ExpressLanes, the antennas tell the computer that the vehicle is gone, and the account is charged, if necessary. (Trips for eligible carpools, vanpools and motorcycles are free.)

Can you use the carpool lane to pass in California?

“Per the California Highway Patrol, if a lane is designated as an HOV lane 24 hours of the day, a single driver with no passengers is not permitted to pass in and out of the HOV lane, even in an area where the HOV lane is separated by a broken white line,” Kasinga said.

Can I use FasTrak flex in carpool lane?

Yes. A FasTrak Flex or FasTrak CAV toll tag is required to receive carpool discounts in the SR-237 express lanes. To qualify as a carpool, a vehicle must have two or more passengers. Both tags have a three-position switch that must be set in position 2 or position 3+, depending on the number of people in the vehicle.

Who can use FasTrak Express lanes?

All vehicles must have a FasTrak toll tag to use the express lanes. Three-person carpools, buses, vanpools and motorcycles travel toll-free with a FasTrak Flex toll tag set to the 3+ position. Two-person carpools with a FasTrak Flex toll tag set to the 2+ position pay half-price tolls.

2 On Your Side: Fastrak Troubles

Who can use carpool lane in California?

Who Can Use HOV Lanes? Motorcycles, mass transit, and vehicles with two or more (2+) occupants are allowed to access the HOV lanes during their operational hours. An "occupant" is defined as any person who occupies a safety restraint device, i.e., seat belt.

Is the carpool lane the fast lane?

Answer: The HOV or carpool lane on the freeway is designed to move large numbers of passengers in vehicles. It is not designed as the fast lane of the freeway. ... If you begin to see a large number of vehicles (especially buses) behind you, you might want to move to a slower lane.

Do you need FasTrak flex for carpool?

You need a FasTrak Flex toll tag if you are a carpool, vanpool, motorcycle or other toll-exempt vehicle that will use the I-880, I-580, I-680 Contra Costa or SR-237 express lanes. Otherwise, your Standard toll tag will work on all express lanes as well as all other FasTrak facilities.

Can you drive in carpool with Tesla?

A new California law going into effect in 2020 will encourage low-income motorists to buy an affordable used EV. On Jan. 1, qualifying solo drivers who buy a used electric car can gain access to carpool lanes. ... Other than Tesla vehicles, electric cars are commonly pegged as having faster depreciation.

Can I use FasTrak without a tag?

If you use an express lane without a valid FasTrak toll tag, you will receive a violation notice. The following is a schedule of toll evasion penalties: First notice issued: $25 penalty. Second (delinquent) notice issued: $70 ($25 penalty plus $45 late fee).

Can Class C RV go in carpool lane California?

The answer is yes for Class A RVs, but the California Highway Patrol website states, under the section about carpool lanes with regard to trucks and cars with trailers: “Any vehicle towing a trailer, large trucks, and other vehicles subject to a 55 MPH speed limit cannot use an HOV lane regardless of the number of ...

How fast can you go in the carpool lane in California?

CHP weighs in. The speed limit on most California freeways is 65, but plenty of drivers in the fast lane go 75 mph. They've learned they generally can go that fast without being ticketed.

Can I use someone elses FasTrak?

FasTrak Standard and FasTrak Flex toll tags can be moved from vehicle to vehicle as long as they are properly mounted at each location, as described in the mounting instructions. ... If you want to track your toll transactions by vehicle, you need to obtain separate toll tags for each vehicle.

What does HOV 2+ mean?

A high-occupancy vehicle lane (also known as an HOV lane, carpool lane, diamond lane, 2+ lane, and transit lane or T2 or T3 lanes) is a restricted traffic lane reserved for the exclusive use of vehicles with a driver and one or more passengers, including carpools, vanpools, and transit buses.

Does FasTrak take pictures of passengers?

Cameras take pictures of the vehicle license plates as they pass through. In case a toll tag is not detected, the pictures are used to identify your vehicle.

How do I get a carpool sticker?

1. Visit the CARB website for a list of eligible vehicles.
2. When purchasing or leasing your vehicle, ask if it will come with an HOV decal.
3. If not, complete the DMV application and mail to. Department of Motor Vehicles. ...
4. Include a check for $22 made payable to the Department of Motor Vehicles.

Can Prius drive in carpool lane California?

For six years, California gave hybrid car owners the keys to the fast lane: permission to drive alone with carpoolers.

Do people steal HOV stickers?

The HOV stickers in CA are tied to the car's registration, so technically, they cannot be used on any other vehicle. However, the person who stole them is probably banking on not getting pulled over, so any HOV stickers will do.

What is a Mylar bag for FasTrak?

I-680 Sunol Express Lanes

If you have a FasTrak Standard toll tag, put it in the Mylar® bag that it came with to avoid the roadside equipment charging you a toll. After your toll-free trip, take it out of the bag and re-install it onto your windshield.

What happens if you accidentally go through FasTrak?

First notice issued: toll plus $25 penalty. Second (delinquent) notice issued: toll plus $70 ($25 penalty plus $45 late fee). If the toll is paid within 15 days, the penalty is reduced to $25.

What is the difference between FasTrak flex and FasTrak?

The standard FasTrak toll tag works at all Bay Area toll bridges, in express lanes for solo drivers, and pays for parking at SFO. The FasTrak Flex toll tag has a three-position switch to signal whether you are traveling as a carpool or alone. It is the carpool/clean air vehicle toll tag for all Bay Area express lanes.

How do carpool lanes work?

An HOV lane, sometimes called a carpool lane, is a special lane reserved for the use of carpools, vanpools and buses. ... These special lanes enable those who carpool or ride the bus to bypass the traffic in the adjacent, unrestricted ("general purpose") lanes.

How fast can you go on fast track?

Most FasTrak toll lanes on bridges have a speed limit of 25 miles per hour (mph).

Can two cars use one transponder?

Can I use my transponder in other vehicles? Yes, you may transfer a transponder between vehicles as long as they are of the same vehicle class. There are penalties for using a transponder in a different vehicle class (i.e. Car transponder in a tractor- trailer.)

Can I use same FasTrak for multiple vehicles?

And yes, you can. Fastrak wants you to have the license plates of all vehicles registered in that account. To add on, you don't need your transponder present if your plate is registered on an account.