A charge labeled “F/ETCA” or “Foothill Eastern ETCA” on your bank or credit card statement is a toll from the Foothill/Eastern Transportation Corridor Agency, the public body that operates State Routes 133, 241, and 261 in Orange County, California.1The Toll Roads. What Is TCA If you, someone driving your car, or a rental you were responsible for passed through one of those roads, that’s where the charge came from. If none of that fits, the sections below walk through how to confirm the charge, pay what you actually owe, dispute what you don’t, and avoid the penalties that pile on when a toll goes unresolved.
Why the Charge Showed Up
The Foothill/Eastern Transportation Corridor Agency, usually shortened to F/ETCA, is one half of the Transportation Corridor Agencies (TCA). It handles the 133, 241, and 261; its sister agency handles the 73.1The Toll Roads. What Is TCA Caltrans owns and maintains the pavement, but TCA bills the tolls.
Three things set the amount: time of day, distance driven, and the number of axles on the vehicle. FasTrak accountholders pay the lowest rate; everyone else pays a higher “non-account” rate when they settle within five days of the trip.2The Toll Roads. Map and Rates Rates rise automatically by 2% each July 1 under the toll rate policy adopted in 2019.3Fitch Ratings. Fitch Revises Foothill Eastern Transportation Corridor Agency Outlook to Positive
A few common reasons a charge appears when you weren’t expecting one:
- You have a FasTrak account and the transponder was read as you drove through — the deduction is automatic.4The Toll Roads. Ways to Pay Tolls
- You paid online by license plate before or after the trip.
- A rental car company passed the toll (and possibly a service fee) through to the card you had on file.
- Someone else driving your car used one of the roads.
If the Charge Is Yours: Confirm and Pay What’s Left
You can look up any toll activity tied to your license plate on The Toll Roads website or mobile app. Tolls can take up to 48 hours to process and link to a plate, so a very recent trip may not show up immediately.4The Toll Roads. Ways to Pay Tolls
If you drove and still owe something, you have a few ways to pay:
- Online or in the app using just your plate number. The window is five days before through five days after the trip.4The Toll Roads. Ways to Pay Tolls
- Through a FasTrak account, which covers every tolled road, bridge, and express lane in California and comes in prepaid, charge, and invoice versions.4The Toll Roads. Ways to Pay Tolls
- In cash at a TCA Customer Service Walk-In Center, or at a participating retailer such as 7-Eleven, CVS, Walgreens, or Walmart through PayNearMe (a convenience fee applies).4The Toll Roads. Ways to Pay Tolls
Pay inside that five-day window. Miss it and the toll becomes a violation, with penalties that climb fast.
If the Charge Looks Wrong: How to Dispute It
If you believe the charge or a violation notice is incorrect, the dispute process has three steps.
Start with a Contest of Notice. Fill out the “Contest of Notice” section on the Notice of Toll Evasion you received, add a written explanation, and send it back. TCA investigates and mails you the result.5The Toll Roads. How Can I Dispute a Violation Under AB 2594, you can contest without paying the toll or penalty upfront as long as you act within 21 days of the notice’s issuance, or 30 days of the mailing of a delinquent notice.6California State Legislature. AB 2594 (Ting)
If you disagree with the result, request an administrative review within 60 days of the postmark date on the initial decision. If that outcome still doesn’t resolve it, you can appeal to the municipal court under California Vehicle Code sections 40255 and 40256.5The Toll Roads. How Can I Dispute a Violation
Violations can also be viewed and managed through The Toll Roads’ secure online portal.
What Happens If You Do Nothing
When a toll goes unpaid past the five-day window, TCA issues a Notice of Toll Evasion, usually within a few weeks. The penalties stack:
- First violation notice: a $57.50 penalty added to the unpaid toll.
- Second violation notice (if the first is ignored): an additional $42.50 penalty.7The Toll Roads. What Is the Penalty for a Toll Road Violation
- DMV registration hold: continued non-payment can place a hold on your California vehicle registration, an authority TCA has under California’s Streets and Highways Code and Vehicle Code.8The Toll Roads. Can TCA Put a Hold on My DMV Vehicle Registration
Under AB 2594, the hold is triggered when a person fails to pay on four or more toll violations after a fourth notice. It lifts once the full amount is paid or the driver enters a payment plan. Agencies have to offer monthly installment plans without prepayment penalties, and if a driver falls more than 10 days behind on a plan, the hold can be reinstated.6California State Legislature. AB 2594 (Ting)
If the charge on your statement is a legitimate toll, paying promptly through The Toll Roads website or app is the quickest way to keep a routine toll from turning into a penalty, a second penalty, and eventually a registration problem. If it isn’t yours, use the contest process while the clock is still on your side.