A hard way to learn a lesson

By its very definition, the term “toll road” means that the user pays to drive on it.

Somehow that concept does not register with many people — too many, according to the North Texas Tollway Authority, which for years has been trying to collect payment from thousands of drivers who ignore the tolls.

Last June the agency announced it had sent notices to 32,675 vehicle owners in eight counties who were habitual violators, generally those who had run up at least 100 tolls without paying.

To combat the problem, the Legislature passed a law allowing for these repeat violators to have their vehicle registrations blocked, be banned from further use of the tollways and have their cars impounded if they continue to drive the toll lanes.

The NTTA issued a stern warning seven months ago and notified hundreds of scofflaws what would happen if they didn’t pay up. Still there were those willing to try the patience of the agency.

This week a Garland woman became the first person to have her vehicle towed and impounded, The Dallas Morning News reported. She owed $2,700 on 1,300 unpaid violations dating to last May.

Some people can only learn the hard way.

This story was originally published January 30, 2015 at 7:26 PM with the headline "A hard way to learn a lesson."