The transition from cash/fastrak pass payment options on all bay bridges has not been easy for many drivers, especially those who are occasional commuters and those with low incomes.

The current system for maintaining balances on fastrak passes is limiting and inflexible and doesn't allow payers to take control over when and how much money they choose to automatically be debited into their account balances. With that in mind many people have struggled to transition to the passes, and have amasses toll invoices that arrive at their homes via paper mail.(which is wasteful but we won't go there for now.)

In order to pay a toll invoice on the Fastrak website you must do one of the following:

1. Call Fastrak during their limited phone hours, and possibly wait on hold during their busiest times in order to talk to a representative
2. provide license plate and toll invoice information for each invoice that you are intending to pay.

Toll Penalties can add up very quickly, the first set of fees for not paying are

1. First notice issued: toll plus $25 penalty
2. Second (delinquent) notice issued: toll plus $70 ($25 penalty plus $45 late fee). 
3. Failure to pay the second notice may result in additional penalties and fees and withholding of your vehicle registration by the DMV and/or a referral to a collections agency.

I am a resident of Oakland and an occasional commuter into San Francisco who, like many others, has experienced an increase in mail theft. This has led to the frequent loss of important documents - including toll invoices from Fastrak. Without these invoices, which contain crucial information needed to pay the tolls online, I find myself accumulating additional fees due to late payments. This issue is not unique to me; thousands of commuters around the SF Bay area are facing similar challenges as they transition to using Fastrak passes.

The current system's lack of flexibility poses a significant burden on those struggling financially. The inability to look up toll tickets and violations by license plate number alone means that missing or stolen mail can result in unaffordable fees for many people trying hard just to make ends meet as they quickly incur late fees for unpaid toll invoices.

In a city where there has been a 17% increase in mail theft (according to a survey by Security.org), it is clear that this issue affects a significant portion of our community. By implementing license plate lookup for Fastrak toll tickets and violations, we can ensure that everyone has fair access to their invoice information and can quickly pay their outstanding toll invoices in a timely manner and prevent unnecessary financial strain as they transition to Fastrak passes.

We urge the relevant authorities at Fastrak, the Bay Area Toll Authority and within our local government in San Francisco and Greater Bay Area, to consider this change seriously. It's time we adapt our systems with empathy towards those affected by circumstances beyond their control and who struggle with the shift in technology after decades of cash payments.

Please sign this petition if you believe in making commuting more affordable and less stressful for everyone in our community.