DALLAS -
The worst offenders when it comes to ignoring tollway fees and fines will soon be banned from driving all North Texas Tollway Authority roads.
On Wednesday the NTTA board approved a plan recoup some of the $300 million it is owed by errant drivers.
Starting this fall, officers on all the NTTA highways will check to see if the people they pull over for other infractions such as speeding have unpaid tolls.
They will impound the cars of violators with 100 or more unpaid tolls. And, they will keep the cars until all accounts are settled.
"In many cases we're talking about folks who have two years' worth of tolls in the hundreds and perhaps thousands of tolls," said Michael Rey, a spokesman for the NTTA.
"Their job is tough enough. They have a job to do. They're risking their life and now they're collection officers and collection agents," said Steve Selby, a Plano driver.
The agency said it will continue to use traditional notices, collection agents and lawsuits.
And, during the next session it will ask legislators to prevent top offenders from being able to register their car.
