This New Lone Star State Law Is Putting the Brakes on Exorbitant Toll Fees

If you’ve racked up late fees for unpaid tolls driving on state roads in Texas over the past decade, here’s some good news.

The Texas Department of Transportation will waive about $1.3 billion in unpaid late fees, KXAN-TV reported.

The state will forgive fees accumulated between 2007 and March 1, 2018, when a law went into effect capping the fees at $48 per year.

Under the new law, the Texas Department of Transportation will now assess late fees of just $4 per month for drivers who have failed to pay tolls.

The fee forgiveness and new fee structure apply only to toll roads managed by the state transportation department.

KXAN-TV also reported drivers were previously fined $25 for each toll violation. Last year, toll violators collectively paid $21.7 million in late fees. In just the first two months of this year, they paid an additional $2.1 million.

The news station reported it could take weeks for the Texas Department of Transportation to clear all the old late-fee balances from drivers’ statements. Those who’ve previously paid their late fees won’t get their money refunded.

Nicole Dow is a staff writer at The Penny Hoarder.