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The Harris County Toll Road Authority needs to get their act together.

I don't think they will contact you for one violation, but I wouldn't push my luck and do it anymore. I think third time a charm, as far as when they send a letter.

You don't have a Toll Tag, apparently. People who use the toll roads without a toll tag are cross-matched in the computers, and will eventually (you'd better hope) receive an invoice (not a cute acronym for fine, but rather an invoice for services rendered i.e. letting you use their concrete for "X" number of miles) that will need to be paid.

If you don't pay it, they tack on fines, and if they're like the North Texas authority, eventually issue a warrant for your arrest for not paying what you owe the guv'mnt.

If you never get the invoice, either (a) you can breathe easy because you slipped one by them, or (b) some where, some day, when you get pulled over, the officer will say something like "Did you know that there is a warrant for your arrest?" or (c) when you go to re-register your vehicles, they say "Did you know you owe the turnpike authority X amount of money plus fines? This deputy constable (or deputy sheriff) will help you take care of things, if you'll just follow him..."

And, sending in anonymous cash, though it will do your heart good, won't convince the computer you don't owe 'em money. I'd wait to see if they send an invoice, then pay it.

Or, you could do like they ask... and tell 'em your license number, and let them tell you whether you owe 'em the $1.20 or whatever.

fishman wrote:but I wouldn't push my luck and do it anymore.

That seems to imply that I have a pattern of doing this. This is the first time I've every taken the Toll Road in my life.

n5wd wrote:You don't have a Toll Tag, apparently. People who use the toll roads without a toll tag are cross-matched in the computers, and will eventually (you'd better hope) receive an invoice (not a cute acronym for fine, but rather an invoice for services rendered i.e. letting you use their concrete for "X" number of miles) that will need to be paid.

If you don't pay it, they tack on fines, and if they're like the North Texas authority, eventually issue a warrant for your arrest for not paying what you owe the guv'mnt.

If you never get the invoice, either (a) you can breathe easy because you slipped one by them, or (b) some where, some day, when you get pulled over, the officer will say something like "Did you know that there is a warrant for your arrest?" or (c) when you go to re-register your vehicles, they say "Did you know you owe the turnpike authority X amount of money plus fines? This deputy constable (or deputy sheriff) will help you take care of things, if you'll just follow him..."

And, sending in anonymous cash, though it will do your heart good, won't convince the computer you don't owe 'em money. I'd wait to see if they send an invoice, then pay it.

Or, you could do like they ask... and tell 'em your license number, and let them tell you whether you owe 'em the $1.20 or whatever.

Umm... So am I the bad guy then? I've never before in my life in all of my travels seen a toll road that was "tag" only and didn't post it. Why else would they have full service booths? Like I said in my post, the exit was NOT a "tag" only exit. They're the ones who messed up - their operator skipped out on them and wasn't there to take my toll.

If I knew for certain that the invoice was something that would cost me what the toll cost, I would send them my license plate number. However, I can't trust the bureaucracy that let this happen in the first place.

I wouldn't worry about it Thomas. If they send you an invoice pay it.......if not......no worries.

Don't worry about an arrest warrent as they don't have your ID, just your license plate.

texanron wrote:I wouldn't worry about it Thomas. If they send you an invoice pay it.......if not......no worries.

Thank you.

I guess I wrote too much in the first post, I don't think everyone who posted read it completely, so I'm just going to edit it out.

Be sure you look for the invoice though. If they sent you one and you missed it, their "administrative charges" for following up can be huge, at least they are with the North Texas tollway.

I remember, back in my younger days, when the toll road folks wouldn't staff those full service booths at all hours. Early in the mornings the gates would be up and no one was there to take payment. We would just roll right on through. We did this countless number of times and never heard a peep. I found out later on that it wasn't profitable for them to pay someone to sit there and take money due to the small amount of vehicels coming through. Therefore they would just leave the gate up and folks were free to pass on through.

So I missed the whole story so I'll assume you missed paying a toll, reason not important. The best and easiest way would be to give the Toll Authority a call and say you would like to pay a toll you missed. At that point they will more than likely allow you to pay what ever it was or forgive the toll.

I have seen on the news that fines can be high on repeated violation which I'm assuming your is not. Just give them a quick call.

I have had very good experiences with the Toll Authority here in Houston when dealing with them.

You will get an invoice in the mail, for the price of the toll you did not eztag pay, as well as a fine of probably $15 or so.
My mom did the same thing (in a car I own - and have since put an EZTag on her car) and I got a bill for 2 tolls unpaid, so $33 or so ($30 for fines and $3 or so for the tolls unpaid)

texanron wrote:when the toll road folks wouldn't staff those full service booths at all hours. Early in the mornings the gates would be up and no one was there to take payment.

I had that happen to me one night about 3am, at the beltway bridge, it was strange, I stopped, looked, and eventually pulled out, all the while thinking I was doing something wrong (and yes, before I had an EZTag)

Teamless wrote:You will get an invoice in the mail, for the price of the toll you did not eztag pay, as well as a fine of probably $15 or so.
My mom did the same thing (in a car I own - and have since put an EZTag on her car) and I got a bill for 2 tolls unpaid, so $33 or so ($30 for fines and $3 or so for the tolls unpaid)

If they sent me a fine, I would take them to small claims court in a county other than Harris where the filing fee is $15. It would be worth it to pay the court fees just to see how it turns out. But first I would let the HCTRA know that was my intention. They would probably drop the fine and everything on the spot. Much easier for them to do that than send a representative. Of course this is a bureaucracy though, so who knows.

Thomas wrote:If they sent me a fine, I would take them to small claims court in a county other than Harris where the filing fee is $15

being I came in late and didn't see the unedited version, I will have to take it that you feel wronged in violating the toll.
I did see a further thread where you said something to the extent of they didn't post it was EZTag only.
I know that I drive the Beltway - while not everyday, I have driven on many parts of it that are EZTag only and have always seen at least one sign saying "EZTAG ONLY -- NO CASH"

Either way, good luck with your issue!