CTRMA teams up with law enforcement to catch habitual toll violators

AUSTIN, Texas - Starting this week about 270 people will be receiving a letter in the mail saying it's time to pay up your toll fines.

The Central Texas Regional Mobility Authority is notifying habitual toll violators if they don't pay up their shockingly high fines they will no longer be able to use Texas toll roads.

Beginning next week, CTRMA will be teaming up with law enforcement to catch habitual toll violators using toll roads, fine them and, at the discretion of the officer, impound violators' cars.

CTRMA executive director Mike Heiligenstein said most drivers pay their dues but about two percent of drivers are habitual violators who have neglected to pay more than 100 tolls and have received numerous notices to pay their tolls within a 12-month period.

"Now we are picking the most egregious violators in the system and letting them know that they will no longer be able to use our roads,” Heilgenstein said. “It's like you walk into a K-Mart and decide it's your right to shoplift, that's not the way this works, these are private roads in terms of the funding and the people that pay deserve to have people who don't pay held accountable."

The highest standing customer bill is $5,256.60. The average person listed in the 270 batch owes about $1,000 in tolls.

Heiligenstein said whether it's one toll bill or 100 toll bills, his office is willing to work with anyone.

"What we are encouraging them to do is to call in tell us what's going on, have you moved a lot is there a reason for what your situation is and then we'll work with you," said Heiligenstein.

For more information on how to pay, visit CTRMA's website.