Woman at Top of Texas Tollway Fine List Owes More Than $179K in Unpaid Tolls
- Posted on July 12, 2012 at 10:40am by
Liz Klimas
- Print »
- Email »
(Image: NTTA)
The North Texas Tollway Authority wants to make sure it can help pay for roads without raising taxes. The whole point of a toll is to charge those that actually use the road, but with devices that let people fly through tolls without tossing in change, some are racking up quite a bill for not having the appropriate tag.
Releasing a list of individuals who have 100 or more outstanding toll transactions, the authority’s “Top Toll Violators” list exposes those who aren’t paying up and also serves to let them know they could be subject to collection lawsuits or other law enforcement.
There are 22 people on the list of top violators who owe more than $100,000. At the top of the list is Amber Young who has racked up $179,596.43 in charges and fines from 8,366 transactions. Also on the list, as noted by the Dallas Observer, is the author of a book that spurred a short-lived ABC series “GCB” — stands for Good Christian B****** — Kim Gatlin. Here’s more from the Observer on that find:
Maybe she was distraught over the cancellation of the show and the slow ebb of her fame and could cope with the sorrow only by hitting the open road. And maybe, on 1,378 occasions, she mistook the Dallas North Tollway for said open road and maybe just forgot she owed $16,123.39 in tolls and fees. But that was mere speculation.
“I had no idea,” she told me when I gave her the figures yesterday over the phone. She had returned my message only a few minutes after I left it and said she was already on her way to NTTA’s headquarters to figure out what had happened. “I would have never expected to see my name in something like this.”
About two years ago, Gatlin sold her white Lexus SUV to a friend, keeping the registration in her name while the friend paid in installments. And, as Gatlin said she realized yesterday, she had also left her toll tag in the car, never expecting that the friend would take the tollway so often.
(Related: ABC Cancels ‘Anti-Christian‘ ’Good Christian Belles’ Television Show)
Watch this WFAA news report on the new list, which had a reporter try to track down some of the top violators:
According to the WFAA report, if people with extraordinarily high bills like Young come to the NTTA wishing to pay, they will work with customers on a payment plan to make things more feasible.
In total, 25,000 people owe $12.5 million. According to NTTA’s announcement of the list, the authority has a pay-by-mail system that issues drivers bills when they go through tolls without a “TollTag.” The tolls have cameras to capture license plate numbers of these tag-less vehicles. There is an added penalty though for not having a TollTag. The rate issued by a bill in the mail is 50 percent more than the TollTage rate. Additional fees are incurred from failing to pay the “ZipCash” bill.
WFAA illustrates this point, noting that $13.24 in tolls not paid at the time but billed through the mail could add up to $80.64 with the additional fees.
Featured image via Shutterstock.
(H/T: Yahoo! Auto)
Popular Stories
Paper Details Obama Admin’s Alleged Secret Note Sent to Iran: If Israel Attacks, We Won’t Get Involved 593 Comments
This Is the Creationists‘ Response to Scientist Bill Nye’s Viral Pro-Evolution Video Claiming They Harm Children 420 Comments
‘Made Up Religion’: TV Historian Enrages Muslims, Receives Threats After Producing UK Documentary Questioning Islam’s Beginnings 415 Comments
President Obama Issues Major ‘Green Energy’ Executive Order 388 Comments
Roseanne Barr: Most Billionaires ‘Violent Pedophiles’ & ‘Heartless’ Cocaine Addicts 377 Comments
Faith
Arab-Muslim Character to Join DC Comics‘ ’Green Lantern’ Series Read More- This Is the Creationists‘ Response to Scientist Bill Nye’s Viral Pro-Evolution Video Claiming They Harm Children 420 Comments
Pakistani Muslim Cleric Accused of Framing Disabled Christian Girl in Koran-Burning Case Read More- ‘Made Up Religion’: TV Historian Enrages Muslims, Receives Threats After Producing UK Documentary Questioning Islam’s Beginnings 415 Comments
Meet the Controversial German Imam Accused of Brutally Beating His Wife & Pushing Sharia Law Read More
Business
- President Obama Issues Major ‘Green Energy’ Executive Order 388 Comments
- Germany’s Upcoming Court Ruling Will be Huge for the EU Read More
Ford Looks to Beat Toyota for Best-Selling Car in 2012 With This Model 151 Comments
Bernanke & QE3: Here’s What You Need to Know 100 Comments- ‘Extortion’: Why Did the Labor Department ‘Drop the Hammer’ on Oregon Farmers? 303 Comments
Technology
- This Is the Creationists‘ Response to Scientist Bill Nye’s Viral Pro-Evolution Video Claiming They Harm Children 420 Comments
‘TaserDrone’: Hackers Weaponize Quadcopter With Actual ‘Shocking’ Technology Read More
Ever Heard of the Wild ‘Burning Man’ Festival in the Middle of the Nev. Desert? Here’s Your Primer Read More
Stanford Develops Technology ‘Better Than Steroids’ for Athlete Recovery Read More
Have You Pretended to Know What ‘the Cloud’ Is? You’re Not Alone Read More
Submitting your tip... please wait!
Comments (53)
claymoremacm
Posted on July 12, 2012 at 8:33pmEveryone,We already pay for the road maintenance!!!! IT IS CALLED FET on Gas.if only it was used for that!!!!! Now the Gov is talking about taxing us per mile driven…but we already pay the FET on Gas
Report Post »rich66
Posted on July 15, 2012 at 12:12amI have some experience with the Indiana Toll Road, and I can tell you a couple things.
It was not built with tax payer money.
Everything from for the trucks and the drivers that plow the snow are not paid for with tax payer money.
The guys that mow the grass and collect the tolls are not state employees.
The State cops that patrol the road are not paid for with tax payer money. Neither are their uniforms, cars, radios, or the bullets in their guns.
Most Toll Roads follow this model.
So no it is not paid for with Federal Excise Tax.
That tax is paid on Gas , Oil and Tires.
If you ride on the toll road you pay a fee for that.
Ever notice it isn’t as crowed? You pay for that.
The toll roads do collect a lot of money in state sales tax and rental fees that that the fast food places and the chocolate chip vendors pay.
And no they were never sold with the idea that “When they are paid for they will be free”
Report Post »They are just like the railroads and canals that were built.
Stratosaurus
Posted on July 12, 2012 at 8:08pmI don‘t know about Dallas or Houston’s tollways, but around Austin, the PTB built a toll road north of the city on the roadbed of a former free loop from Parmer Lane around to IH-35 in Round Rock, then connected it to another toll road that was supposed to “relieve truck traffic on IH-35 through downtown Austin”. That road TX 130 runs east of IH-35 from Georgetown in the north to (eventually) I-10 in Seguin. The section east of Austin is complete from 183 to Georgetown, and it’s a very nice road. The problem results when the state DOT finishes each section, they turn the toll collection and road maintenance over to a Swiss/Mexican/Chinese consortium.
I’ve used the toll road a couple of times, but it costs about six bucks each way to use it from 183 to Georgetown. When I got to Dallas early in the morning, I’ll use it to avoid the CF that is South Austin to Round Rock on IH-35 every day of the week. I’ve seen NO semis on that road. The reason? Normal toll for a car is $1.50, four times in 35 miles. For a semi, it’s more like $4-5 per toll station. So, using 130 and the toll connector from IH-35 to TX130 (two more toll stations) means that a semi wishing to avoid massive traffic jams needs to spend between $24 and $30 to drive an extra 15 miles out of their way. Even though indie truckers get paid by the mile, the extra miles for which they get paid don’t offset the very steep toll rates around Austin.
Report Post »myway
Posted on July 12, 2012 at 5:21pmIn Texas we have Toll Ways that get you through rush hour and cut driving time down. We have some that post EZ Tag only as they have no occupied toll booths. They have cameras. The Fort Bend tollway is one of them. Before they made it EZ Tag only people would stop right behind the car ahead of them and drive though on their bumper as you had to have cash to get the gate to open. Free pass? The problem was after I got stuck having to pay two toll fees I got an EZ Tag. Disabled Veterans with DV plates do not pay tolls or parking even at the Airports. Texas also has no Property Tax for Veterans to a certain amount. This is Houston people.
Report Post »LostInTheSpin
Posted on July 12, 2012 at 3:53pmDon’t like the new system. Used it about a dozen times. 3 months later, I was wondering when they would be mailing me the bill. They never did. I squared up with them, but never used the toll again. If it’s a private toll company, they must have gotten advice from the govt. in how to manage the billing dept. It’s almost like they want you to wind up with late fees/fines.
Report Post »TommyGuns
Posted on July 12, 2012 at 3:28pmWhy shouldn’t everyone have to pay for the maintenance of the roads? After all, as we were told by the Democrat Congress and the President about health care, at some time in your life, you’ll have to use the roads, if only to take your butt to the ER for treatment under Obamacare? Seriously folks, the real problem with the decision by the Supreme Court is that the government can now justify compelling you to buy something that they decide you will need, just by imposing a tax if you don’t buy it. So why not do the roads the same way? For that matter, why not pass a law that taxes you for not buying a Government Motors car, since you will at some time or another need transportation to get back and forth from a store, or the hospital where you’ll get your rationed care. And, of course, we do own a heck of a lot of worthless GM stock?
Report Post »Constructionist
Posted on July 12, 2012 at 3:22pmConsider for a moment the sheer absurdity of a person even being able to rack up $180,000 in “toll” road charges.
Perhaps the government should consider charging a ‘user fee’ on gravity.
Report Post »Truthbeliever2
Posted on July 12, 2012 at 3:06pmI think is hilarious that people are actually in favor of roads you have to pay to drive on. The state builds the road with our money and then charges us to drive on it. LOL
Report Post »pdw
Posted on July 12, 2012 at 3:19pmWe use them as they are much faster and save time, gas and money. I can get to Galveston about 1 1/2 hours sooner using the tollway. Mostly I do not have any use for them but those who work there can, at least most of the time save an hour to and from work. That might explain why.
Report Post »rich66
Posted on July 15, 2012 at 12:16amNot really.
Report Post »jalgernon
Posted on July 12, 2012 at 3:05pmSimple question. Are all of these scofflaws black? Why is this a big secret?
Report Post »Karron
Posted on July 12, 2012 at 2:39pmEither she is dumb as a stump, or she is a liar. The folks send you a ticket every time you run through the toll road without paying.
Report Post »kbstreet1
Posted on July 12, 2012 at 2:03pmGoing one exit on these Spanish owned toll roads cost me $3.68.
Report Post »eric6161
Posted on July 12, 2012 at 1:46pmWow, 25,000 people owe $12 1/2 million? That’s $500 each time thru without paying… or NTTA is pretty bad at 2nd grade arithmetic.
Report Post »RodT82721
Posted on July 12, 2012 at 1:22pmThis is what happens when someone thinks everything is free, or a right, is finally charged for their use. What! It cost that much?
We had these same type stories about cell-phone users, when they had no idea their calling wasn’t free! So many Americans are so used when others (the tax payers) supplies them all these free things.
Now the money’s gone! Not only are we broke, we are in debt for decades to come and spending like everything is still free. Congress spends twice what it receives each year!
When the fact that there isn’t any such thing as a free lunch, is dropped on a “free rider”, it can hurt.
How many know that 17% of Federal highway taxes go to pay for metro rail & bus systems?
Report Post »After all, if those riders where ever charged to cover the cost, to ride the metros, they wouldn’t ride. The Taxi ride is the only real paid for form of transportation that isn’t subsidized by unsuspecting tax payers. The fare covers the cost, that’s why they cost so much.
Man-On-A-Mission
Posted on July 12, 2012 at 12:17pmWhere is good old GOP talking about why we have Toll roads in the first place. This is what our Federal Taxes and Tax on Gas is suppose to pay for. So they take my money and I have to pay each time I drive to work also…..talking about a loss of Freedom……
If you pay for Road Tolls you should not pay for a local GAS tax, nor state tax for road….Tolsl are a bunch of BS.
Report Post »jman-6
Posted on July 12, 2012 at 12:27pmSome of the toll roads are privately owned an thus usually in great shape compared with the govt run roads. I actually like private roads for the simple fact that the people who use them pay for them instead of me paying thru taxes for roads I’ll never use!
Report Post »pdw
Posted on July 12, 2012 at 3:23pmTolls are the way many roads are funded, but at one time they were suppose to at some time in the future do away with the tolls. But they found that they had more money for more road, etc so it runs on forever. Many of the cost for roads got funneled into other projects as our government when they see a way to get money they like to detour those funds to their pet projects for purposes of re-election!
Report Post »pdw
Posted on July 12, 2012 at 3:35pmIn Texas if they do not have the funds the roads are not to be built. This is why many projects are on the shelf as later projects maybe 5-20 years down the road.
Report Post »JRook
Posted on July 12, 2012 at 3:51pm@jman-6 Really a better deal/////
“In two weeks, the cost of traveling the 157-mile length of the Indiana Toll Road will rise more than 2 percent, from $8.80 to an even $9, for those who pay the toll in cash. The fare will jump a full buck for truckers hauling semi-trailers, from $35.20 to $36.20.
The July 1 toll hike may not seem so painful, until you consider that those tolls were about half of their soon-to-be rates only five years ago — and that they hadn’t risen for two decades prior to that. Even harder to swallow for some drivers, truckers in particular, is the fact that their growing contributions go not to the State of Indiana but to overseas investors who’ve leased the toll road from the state.”
Privatization of the highways is at best a cheap trick to create money by selling assets. And as noted above a cowardly way of avoiding raising taxes or tolls to pay for them. But one can only live off the balance sheet for so long and the budget impact is short lived. At the end of the day it amounts to anything but Leadership. So much for privatization yielding greater efficiency and lower prices.
Report Post »Patriot of My America
Posted on July 12, 2012 at 7:24pmLook out, the regressive socialist liberal democRats are thinking of Taxing you on the mileage you drive in addition to your fuel tax. Yes thats right. A tax on your mileage. suck it up because if the regressive socialist liberal DemocRats stay in power your mileage will be taxed..
Report Post »jackact
Posted on July 12, 2012 at 11:58amA government employee perhaps?
Report Post »love the kids
Posted on July 12, 2012 at 12:17pmReally, 179,000 in tolls? You could get a really nice house in Texas for that money, and live there for 60 years. How can that much money be justified? It sounds like the poor aren’t paying their “Fair share”.
Report Post »I also think that Auto insurance should be done just like the Health care bill, after all, road usage is a right, and everyone uses the roads in one way or another, so why should only people that own a car pay insurance?
pdw
Posted on July 12, 2012 at 3:39pmNow that is a possibility, we do have quite a few on the take here in Texas we call them bottom feeders. But if they are on the take they should have gotten their buddies to give them a free exempt pass.
Report Post »Detroit paperboy
Posted on July 12, 2012 at 11:42amThey will never see a dime……..
Report Post »RamonPreston
Posted on July 12, 2012 at 11:41amShe said she only wanted to USE the road; not BUY it.
Report Post »setoguro
Posted on July 12, 2012 at 11:36amWhose to say it‘s not the state’s mistake or the tag that’s the problem?
Report Post »pdw
Posted on July 12, 2012 at 3:36pmThat’s for the courts to decide.
Report Post »LeadNotFollow
Posted on July 12, 2012 at 11:36am…
Report Post »This is the sort of thing, that’s causing America to go broke.
States need to collect money that is owed to them.
I’m sick of freeloaders. I pay all my bills and taxes. I‘m sick of paying other people’s bills.
I live within my means. You should too.
RamonPreston
Posted on July 12, 2012 at 11:42amMust be nice to be able to; not everybody had a “good” job.
Report Post »65Mustang
Posted on July 12, 2012 at 11:10amFrom what I have read about Texans being so tough and patriotic, I can’t believe this was allowed to happen…has she and others slipped “through the cracks” of legal justice?
Report Post »ChristmanWalking
Posted on July 12, 2012 at 11:46amIndy!!! Have you ever been to Texas??? Oh, and what No Tax, No Police State do you live in???
I spent many years in Texas and still have family there…Awesome place! I agree with my buddy TexasTommy… Too D**N Bad!
Oh, Indy, I forgot, you want everything for free… Wait, or do you want Higher taxes??? I’m so confused#^%#^#… Free or Higher Taxes??? How much do you owe in Stolen Taxes, I mean Tolls???
Report Post »ChristmanWalking
Posted on July 12, 2012 at 11:59amSorry 65Mustang… HIt the wrong reply…Please see below “Indy” post.
Report Post »pdw
Posted on July 12, 2012 at 3:33pmYes there is corruption in Texas like all the states.
Report Post »Individualism
Posted on July 12, 2012 at 11:09amTexas goverment oppressing its people even more, taxes are high enough in that state and its is already one hell of a police state.
Report Post »scuba13
Posted on July 12, 2012 at 11:15amMaybe you can call Ron Paul and talk to him about it.
Report Post »texastommy
Posted on July 12, 2012 at 11:31amToo bad you don‘t know what you’re talking about Indivdualism. Yep, too damn bad.
Report Post »Individualism
Posted on July 12, 2012 at 11:33amyeah get him to run for governor and win and than get Texas to secede from the union than folks would move over there like mad along with business to.
Report Post »saranda
Posted on July 12, 2012 at 11:48amSevering doesn’t remove the need to pay for services. These people should jailed, or at least have assets seized. Don’t use toll roads if you cannot or will not pay the fine.
Report Post »ChristmanWalking
Posted on July 12, 2012 at 11:58amHey Indy!!! It’s “then” not “than”… So why don’t you take your highly edgubacated, kool aid drinking butt over to BSNBC and talk with yo folk???
Report Post »ChristmanWalking
Posted on July 12, 2012 at 12:13pmRepost: HIt wrong reply:
Indy!!! Have you ever been to Texas??? Oh, and what No Tax, No Police State do you live in???
I spent many years in Texas and still have family there…Awesome place! I agree with my buddy TexasTommy… Too D**N Bad!
Oh, Indy, I forgot, you want everything for free… Wait, or do you want Higher taxes??? I’m so confused#^%#^#… Free or Higher Taxes??? How much do you owe in Stolen Taxes, I mean Tolls???
Report Post »pdw
Posted on July 12, 2012 at 3:30pmWe have no state Taxes only taxes are when we buy product. The wonderful thing about Toll roads is that they all have frontage roads that may be used instead. Of course they have stop lights at every intersection so if you are not in a hurry you may use them instead of paying a toll. And at times we need to detour as the frontage road is not always there but continues further down the road.
Report Post »CNCFan
Posted on July 13, 2012 at 12:43amPDW tell that to a home owner, I know I was one in Texas and got the &ell out.
Report Post »rt elms
Posted on July 12, 2012 at 11:07amWow! The streets truly are paved with gold in Texas.
Report Post »HorseCrazy
Posted on July 12, 2012 at 11:06amI hate toll ways. I pay the bills but I hate it everytime in wa state its always a reminder of the mass failures of government to actually set aside money to repair existing roadways instead of always building new bike lanes.
Report Post »RamonPreston
Posted on July 12, 2012 at 11:44amYou mean the tax on gasoline is for road repair and NOT building bike lanes?
Report Post »chips1
Posted on July 12, 2012 at 11:01amDo you mean to tell me that it costs $21.46 each time she goes thru the toll booth? I don’t think so.
Report Post »Polarized America
Posted on July 12, 2012 at 11:32amyup… i got the same number, but i think there are late fee’s included
Report Post »Free Willy
Posted on July 12, 2012 at 3:15pmThey bill you $0.80 then add $25 for not paying
Report Post »lukerw
Posted on July 12, 2012 at 10:54amBelle Starr lives!
Report Post »teddrunk
Posted on July 12, 2012 at 10:53amWhy not put the people who owe the money, and can’t/won’t pay the fines, actually our on the roads, in chain gangs, repairing them?
Report Post »They could pay their bill off that way rather than just forgiving the debt.