Texas Transportation Department to waive $1.3B in late fines

AUSTIN, Texas (AP) – The Texas Department of Transportation will forgive more than $1.3 billion in late fines and fees owed by drivers on state toll roads since 2007.
    
The department announced the decision last week at a House Transportation Committee meeting in response to a cap on unpaid toll fees lawmakers imposed last year, the Austin American-Statesman reported .
    
The move only covers tolls incurred on roads operated by the Transportation Department, such as State Highway 130 and State Highway 45 North. The decision doesn’t affect tolls, fines or fees racked up on tollways operated by the Central Texas Regional Mobility Authority or other local toll agencies.
    
The new law took effect last month and limits administrative fees on state-operated tollways to $6, with an annual maximum of $48. The department will charge $4 a month for unpaid tolls.
    
Texas didn’t have such a cap before, so the department’s fines could quickly amount to $25 per unpaid toll or more when cases were referred to a collection agency or a court. Some drivers saw debts up to tens of thousands of dollars.
    
Department officials said they won’t refund late fees and fines previously paid, including those made in the first two months of this year.
    
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