Power of the Texas Toll Roads

Texas Toll Roads Scare Me!!! Back in December I got a letter from he Central Texas Toll Road Authority. Thought they were sending me an offer to apply for a toll pass. Big surprise. It was a bill for about $18 dollars. I was very upset because I had never used a toll road in Texas and I am one of the people who are strongly against them. The bill was for about $ 3 in toll fee and another $15 for not paying the first bill.

Called their office to find out what was going on. Mentioned that I had never used the toll road somewhere in the Northwest side of Austin. Never go there and that is about 70 miles from my house. The young man who took my call was courteous and helpful. I told him that I have never used a toll road in Texas and that I am against using them. I asked how did they come up with the information that one of my vehicles had used the toll road. Especially when the license number they had was not from a vehicle but from a U Haul trailer. They only image of a license was that of the rear end of a U Haul vehicle. He asked if I had rented a U Haul and I informed him that not for over 10 years. What happened is that the vehicle pulling the U Haul fit the description of my 2004 Ford Ranger pickup. With that and figuring that the closest owner of a pickup like that was mine they just assumed it was mine and sent me a bill. I informed him that there was no way it was my vehicle and would never use a toll road in Texas unless it was an emergency. He was polite and said that because they didn't have a plate number from the actual vehicle pulling the U Haul they would forgive me this time. Nice but I still had the feeling that they considered me guilty.

Did it every cross their mind that a vehicle pulling a U Haul trailer has about a 90% chance of being from out of state or the area!

Duuuuuuuuhhhhhhhhh Nooooooooo!

It is their policy to just pick some vehicle in the area that fits the description and send them a bill. Corrupt, Dishonest and Illegal. But then again they have the power and blessing of the Governor and state DOT to do anything they want. I am glad that I opened the letter out of curiosity if not I may get stopped in the future and guess what they have a warrant out for me and my vehicle. The headaches and problems would be much greater in that situation.

I have this question. Why do the toll roads in Texas cost 3 to 4 times more than the toll roads in Oklahoma and Kansas? A toll road is a toll road, doesn't matter if it is newer. The Spanish company that bought the rights to the new toll road is known for being the most expensive in the world. When they offered Gov Perry the amount of money they did for the rights he was probably so excited that he wet his pants. Think of all the extra money to put in the budget to make him look great. Anyway a recent article stated that the traffic on the new 130 is only 40% of what they had predicted. Wonder why. What would happen if Texas had to buy it back?

da Rat