Newport Man Wins $500 in Free Tolls

A Newport Coast man -- who has been a FasTrak user for more than a decade -- was recently named a winner of the $500 Toll Road contest.

Chuck Christensen, a local real estate professional, drives The Toll Roads while commuting around Orange County and to and from San Diego. A FasTrak user since 1998, Christensen was randomly selected on Dec. 28 as one of two winners in the monthly $500 free toll giveaway being held by The Toll Roads. Christensen was driving on the 73 Toll Road traveling southbound through the Catalina View Mainline Toll Plaza.

“I drive The Toll Roads whenever I am in a hurry,” Christensen said. “I place a high value on my time and the toll roads allow me to spend my time on productive activities rather than sitting in traffic.”

Christensen is the contest's second winner from Newport Beach.

Wanna win? Here's how

Each month, two drivers who pay with FasTrak on the 73, 133, 241 or 261 toll roads will be randomly selected to win $500 in free tolls, according to the Transportation Corridor Agencies. Winners will be selected at the end of each month and their accounts credited with $500. Each time a driver takes a trip, their account number will be entered into that month's drawing. TCA officials say only the account holder is eligible to win, not the person driving during the selected trip. The contest continues through Sept. 30.

To be eligible, FasTrak account holders need to log in online or go to thetollroads.com/500 to register. Joyce Hill, deputy director of customer service for the Toll Roads, says once registered, drivers will be automatically entered to win every time they drive the 73, 133, 241 or 261.

“The more trips they take, the better their odds of winning,” Hill said.

Drivers who do not have a TCA FasTrak account can sign up for one at TheTollRoads.com, or in person at the FasTrak Service Center at 125 Pacifica in Irvine. According to TCA officials, FasTrak drivers can save money at every pay point on The Toll Roads, usually $.40 to $.80 compared to the cash toll, saving about $100 or more a year for the average user.