WORKING -- Kathy Balmanno

-- Story by Erika I. Ritchie; photo by ???

SHE IS

Manning the booth.

THE PERFECT JOB

After 15 years of being a full-time mom for her three children, Kathy

Balmanno has rejoined the work force.

Collecting money on the San Joaquin Hills Toll Road is the perfect job

for her because it offers a flexible schedule, allowing her to be home in

the afternoons when her teenage children return from school.

“I like to be home for my kids, especially for my 12-year-old,” she said.

“This answered my needs. I work starting at 5:45 a.m. and am done by 2:30

p.m., five days a week.”

ISLANDS IN THE STORM

Balmanno sits in a stainless steel booth not much bigger than a small

walk-in closet. But for her, it’s an island of refuge among a

never-ending stream of cars whizzing by.

“I feel very secure,” she said. “I’ve never heard of an accident in the

booths.”

There are many signs reminding motorists of the 10-mph speed limit when

nearing the toll booths.

“People turn off to pay and they know they have to slow down,” she said.

But she has heard stories from employees who work later shifts,

describing some drivers who do not show such obedience. Some people pass

through the booths late at night, after the bars let out, and do not pay

attention to the posted speed limit, she said.

“They come through here at more than 30 to 40 mph,” she said.

If a motorist appears intoxicated, toll booth attendants report the

offending driver to the authorities, she said.

However, the morning shift provides a more tranquil setting.

“I start early in the morning and in the winter, it takes an hour and a

half before the sun comes up,” she said.

RUSH-HOUR SERVICE

Balmanno enjoys serving the public.

“Primarily, my job description is collecting tolls and making things move

as quickly as possible,” she said. “We provide a service to the customer,

oftentimes giving them directions and many times making their day more

personable.

“A fair amount of customers come through every day to have human

interaction.”

There are regulars who come to her booth daily and sometimes they just

want to stop and chat.

“Some customers like to talk and they don’t realize a stream of cars is

building up behind them. I ask them to move on politely and that I’ll

talk to them tomorrow,” she said.

But rush hour, when the road is packed with cars, can be stressful,

Balmanno said.

PAYING THEIR WAY

Most motorists are happy to pay their toll and have the exact change

ready. But there are some who are distracted, many busy talking on

cellular phones, who are caught unprepared, she said.

The toll, which starts at $2.25 for a two-axle vehicle and goes up to $9

for certain trucks, leaves most motorists unfazed. But the drivers who

mistakenly get on the toll road because of a wrong turn are frustrated

when they have to cough up the cash.

Balmanno says she sees five to six motorists a day who find themselves in

this predicament.

“They have to pay if they’re coming through the toll lanes. There are no

allowances made for mistakes,” she said.

Their frustration can grow if they find themselves without any cash. But

they don’t get off the hook.

“They are directed through the lane and a picture is automatically taken

and they are sent a notification in the mail to pay their toll within 15

days with no fees or fines added,” Balmanno said.

SEEING STARS

Like the Hollywood Walk of Fame, the toll road gets its own share of

stars.

“We’ve had a lot of celebrities come through here,” Balmanno said.

She’s only seen one, but it was a big one: Tom Hanks.

“I knew it was him. He didn’t speak because you know he has a very

distinctive voice and mouth mannerism, but I was sure it was him,” she

said. “He paid his toll with a $100 bill.”