LaredoBuzz.Com

Courtesy Raul Leal,

AUSTIN – Motorists who have not paid delinquent tolls may still take advantage of the Texas Department of Transportation’s (TxDOT) offer to reduce violation fees, but time is running out.

October 15 marks the halfway point of the program, and toll road customers with unpaid tolls have until November 30, 2009 take advantage of the department’s one-time toll violation recovery program. In return for payment of all outstanding tolls, TxDOT will waive 90 percent of the administrative and collection fees accrued. To receive the fee reduction, customers must also open a TxTag account and keep it in good standing.

To date, $127,442 have been collected in outstanding tolls and fees. Approximately 2.24 percent of the roughly 140,000 accountholders in violation at the start of the program have contacted TxDOT and made payment. There have been over 5900 phone calls to the TxTag Customer Service Center that have resulted in payments or new accounts since the program began.

“I’m pleased to see that many of our customers are using this opportunity to bring their toll accounts current,” said Mark Tomlinson, TxDOT Turnpike Authority Division Director. “If the number of calls our customer service representatives are taking is any indication, I believe we’ll have many more customers pay their tolls and fees by the time the program ends.”

TxDOT encourages accountholders to not wait until the November 30 deadline, as a large call volume may make it difficult to get through the busy phone lines. After November 30, TxDOT will begin filing in court to collect tolls and fees owed to the state, which will result in additional fines and court fees of $350 or more on toll violations.

“Providing good customer service is important to us, and we have tried to make it easy to pay tolls with TxTag, Pay By Mail or cash, where available. I understand that bills sometimes get overlooked, and we are trying to help those in violation start fresh. But let me assure you, we are determined to collect. Taking a toll road may be a choice, but paying tolls you accrue is not,” Tomlinson cautioned.

This offer does not apply to violations on toll roads operated by other entities, including the North Texas Tollway Authority, the Central Texas Regional Mobility Authority or the Harris County Toll Road Authority. Rental car companies are also excluded from participation in this program.

Toll road users may inquire about the status of their account by contacting the TxTag Customer Service Center at 1-888-468-9824, which is open for extended hours throughout the toll violation recovery period.  Customer service representatives are available by telephone Monday through Saturday from 7 a.m. to 11 p.m., and Sunday from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Customers may also visit the TxTag Customer Service Center at 12719 Burnet Road in Austin, Monday through Friday, 7 a.m. to 7 p.m., and Saturday
from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m.