Prosecutor Preparing to File Charges Against Alleged Toll 49 Scofflaws

TYLER – Drivers who have used Toll 49 without paying may find themselves in court soon. Beginning in late July, the Smith County District Attorney’s Office will initiate legal proceedings against vehicle owners who have repeatedly ignored requests for payment. That’s according to a news release from the North East Texas Regional Mobility Authority. “The vast majority of our customers pay for their use of Toll 49,” says Everett Owen, Interim Executive Director of the NET RMA. “Those customers who pay their fair share expect that we are enforcing the law.”

Drivers who use Toll 49 without a valid Toll tag are sent a bill in the mail. Roughly 35% of
the drivers who use Toll 49 are sent toll bills under the “Pay-By-Mail” program. If the bill is
not paid within 30 days, the tolls are converted to violations and a violation notice is issued.
If the violation notice goes unpaid, the registered owner of the vehicle can be charged with a
misdemeanor and face fines and fees in excess of $250.

The NET RMA has contracted with Municipal Services Bureau (MSB) to handle the billing and violation enforcement program on Toll 49. Vehicle owners may be able to avoid courtbby contacting MSB at 1-888-923-2808 to discuss payment options.

About Pay-By-Mail

Pay-By-Mail customers are not required to prepay or register. Drivers who do not have Toll tag accounts automatically become Pay-By-Mail customers when they pass through the electronic toll plazas on Toll 49. Equipment on the toll road takes pictures of their license plates and that information is used to identify the registered owner of any given vehicle. A bill for the tolls is then sent to the registered owner’s address.

Due to the administrative costs associated with identifying vehicle owners and distributing
bills, Pay-By-Mail customers are charged a slightly higher rate than Toll tag customers and
incur a $1.00 convenience charge per bill. Customers have 30 days to pay each bill. They may go to http://www.paynetrmatoll.com to pay online. They may also pay by mail, in person, or over the phone.

Pay-By-Mail customers who fail to pay their Toll Bills are subject to the following violations
policy:

• Failure to pay a Toll Bill within 30 days will result in the vehicle owner receiving a
Notice of Toll Violation. An additional $15 administrative fee is added to the original
Toll Bill.
• Failure to pay a Notice of Toll Violation within 30 days will result in the vehicle
owner receiving a Final Notice of Toll Violation. An additional $15 administrative
fee is added to the original Toll Bill.

• Failure to remit payment within 30 days of receiving a Final Notice of Toll Violation
will result in the vehicle owner being referred to collections.
• If the collection process is unsuccessful, the vehicle owner may be charged with a
misdemeanor.
The additional fees are intended to cover the cost of pursuing unpaid toll bills.