News 8 AustinYour News NowYour News NowAn Exclusive Service of Time Warner Cable
News 8 Austin


TOP STORIES


HEADLINES


LOCAL NEWS


Central Texas


Hays County


• San Marcos


Bastrop County


Bell County


Caldwell County


McLennan County


Willliamson County


YOUR NEWS


WEATHER


SPORTS


HORNS STAMPEDE


LIVING


NEWS 8 EXPLORES


SPECIAL COVERAGE


COMMUNITY


COMMENTARY


ABOUT US


SEARCH


NEWS8CAST VIDEO




Buy your tickets online today.

Submit your summer camp for our free online listing.

Contact News 8 through the IVC.

LOCAL NEWS
TuesdayFebruary92010



x49
Toll road billing continues to take its toll on drivers
3/9/2009 5:14 PM
By: Bob Robuck

Several weeks ago, News 8 made an open records request for the total amount currently owed by toll road users, broken down into actual tolls and administrative fees.  
In a continuing "Your News" look into Texas Department of Transportation toll road billing complaints, News 8 asked viewers to e-mail us with their various issues.

We received dozens of e-mails from people complaining they had paid their tolls, only to be billed again with penalties.

Others have issues with their toll tags. Still more complain about customer service and lack of knowledge by representatives.

The complaints were so varied and complicated, we had to break them down into recurring themes.

The complaints most prevalent include: accusations of inaccurate billing, exorbitant administrative fees, inaccurate record keeping and promises made by customer service that were not fulfilled.

More Information
Toll Info
More Information

For a map of open, developing and planned toll roads in the Central Texas region, visit the Central Texas Regional Mobility Authority's, Web site.

Click the links to find out more about Texas Tollways, or the TxTag.

To be fair, these claims have yet to be substantiated.

For weeks, News 8 has asked TxDOT to respond to these claims. We were told Turnpike Authority Director Mark Tomlinson was just too busy to talk to us.

We wouldn't settle for talking to one of TxDOT's media representatives because, by their own admission, one of them had already given us inaccurate information.

We took the e-mails to TxDOT to be presented to Tomlinson. News 8's Bob Robuck delivered a packet of e-mails, with names and contact information redacted.

We included a note that we would get in contact later this week.

 WATCH THE VIDEO
More Information
Toll Roads

News 8's Bob Robuck shares his progress in speaking directly to the Texas Department of Transportation.



And, remember Lisa Coleman, who TxDOT billed for nearly $4,000, and Samone Murray, billed for more than $11,000?

A TxDOT spokesperson told us each woman received an offer to have her penalties forgiven as long as she paid the tolls.

Murray said no one made her such a deal and Coleman claims customer service made the offer at the very beginning of her nightmare, when TxDOT couldn't provide documentation that she even owed the tolls.

We hope to get more direct answers to these and other claims very soon.

Several weeks ago, we made an open records request for the total amount currently owed by toll road users, broken down into actual tolls and administrative fees.

TxDOT said it still needs a couple of more days to compile that information.

We still want to hear from you if you have issues with Central Texas toll roads. E-mail us at yournews@news8austin.com, call (512) 531-8888 or write to us at News 8 Austin, 1708 Colorado St., Austin, TX 78701.

More Information
Related Stories
More Information

3/3/09Advocacy groups protest TxDOT stimulus projects
2/17/09Unpaid toll bills taking a toll on one driver
1/6/09TxDOT reduces Trans-Texas Corridor to bits and pieces
1/3/09Texas lawmakers to focus on transportation politics
10/28/08Toll booth workers losing out on cashless conversion

More Information
Disputes and Exemptions
More Information

Under Texas law you may be able to dispute these charges if you meet one of the following criteria:

- You were no longer the legal owner of the vehicle at the time it was on the toll road
- The vehicle was leased or rented to another entity at the time it was on the toll road
- The vehicle was stolen prior to its use of the toll road

To qualify for one of these exemptions you must submit written proof that the vehicle was not legally under your ownership or control at the time the vehicle was on the toll road. This can be accomplished by mailing a copy of your toll bill along with one of the following documents to us:

- A copy of the Texas Motor Vehicle Transfer Notification Form confirming sale or transfer of your vehicle to another owner
- A copy of the rental or lease agreement which includes the name and address of the party responsible for the car at the time the toll charges were incurred
- A copy of the police report showing your vehicle was reported stolen prior to the time the toll charges were incurred

Source: Municipal Services Bureau




Email this Story to a Friend
Printer Friendly Version
Search LOCAL NEWS

Weather Center
evening
2/9/2010
Near 40
overnight
2/10/2010
Mid 30s
morning
2/10/2010
Near 30

Voters' Guide

For Central Texas Election Information, including a list of statewide candidates and links to county voting locations, click the link.

Primary election day is March 2. The general election is Nov. 2.

The premier collision shop that paints cars.
News 8 Video Cart

Story
Play
Read
Tracking Alzheimer
Play Video
Read Story
Poker tournament
Play Video
Read Story
Overactive bladder
Play Video
Read Story
Bailout Bill
Play Video
Read Story
Threadgill's
Play Video
Read Story
Cancer Connection
Play Video
Read Story
Halloween safety
Play Video
Read Story
Toll Amnesty
Play Video
Read Story
White for Governor?
Play Video
Read Story
Democrats in the Race
Play Video
Read Story
The race heats up
Play Video
Read Story
Build News Cast Empty Cart
Full Instructions Full Instructions
Online Poll

Tuesday morning, a judge agreed to hear a divorce case between a same-sex couple. This is the second case heard in Texas. Do you agree with his decision to hear the case?
No, gay marriage is illegal in Texas
Yes, there was no other way to solve the matter
Unsure, this is a complicated legal matter
Other – your comments

VoteView Results
Neighborhood Calendar
COMMUNITY CALENDAR
Jan FEBRUARY 2010 Mar
S M T W Th F S
Week Of 2/1/2010-2/6/2010 1 2 3 4 5 6
Week Of 2/7/2010-2/13/2010 7 8 9 10 11 12 13
Week Of 2/14/2010-2/20/2010 14 15 16 17 18 19 20
Week Of 2/21/2010-2/27/2010 21 22 23 24 25 26 27
Week Of 2/28/2010-3/6/2010 28





Baby Products





Home | Terms of Use | Privacy Policy | Contact Information | Site Map | Click for RSS information
Copyright ©2010TWEAN News Channel of Austin, L.P. d.b.a. News 8 Austin

Web production by Tipit


Digital Cable offers the latest in home-viewing entertainment.
Talk as long as you want to anyone in Texas and the United States for one low monthly price.
Time Warner Cable now offers you more choices in High Speed Internet service.
Time Warner Digital Cable offers a wide variety of commercial products designed to accelerate the gr
Video On Demand lets you instantly choose from a wide selection of great movies and award- winning p
Digital Cable channel lineups.
Time Warner Cable of Austin offers 15 HDTV channels on digital cable.
TV listings for your service area.
Take a look at the special offers and promotions available now through Time Warner Cable Austin.
Record two shows at once. Plus fast-forward, rewind, and even pause LIVE TV to get a snack, answer t

On the go? Follow us on Twitter and we'll keep you current.

Sponsored Links

Nearly 1 in 5 Central Texans is food insecure. Donate online today.