At a time when toll roads are expanding across the state, a State Senate committee has approved a controversial new tool to get motorists to pay their tolls, News Radio 1200 WOAI reports.
A measure approved by the Senate Transportation Committee would allow counties to withhold the registrations of vehicles which have more than 100 outstanding toll charges on them.
The way most Texas toll roads work is through electronic monitoring of drivers. Instead of the familiar toll booth where a payment is handed to a toll road worker, sensors are placed along toll roads.
The sensors read either the 'toll tags' on the windshield of vehicles entering the toll road, or take pictures of the license plates of cars that don't have toll tags.
Then, the system debits the toll tag account of the driver, or, in the case of motorists without toll tags, the owner of the vehicle is mailed a bill.
State Sen. Van Taylor (R- Plano) says he is a big opponent of toll roads, even though his North Dallas district has more toll roads any other in the state.
But he says it isn't fair to have honest motorists 'subsidize' the toll payments of others.
"Its not right that I have five percent of people who are tollways, who are effectively making the other 95% pay their tolls," he said. "If you want lower toll rates, everybody has to pay."
But Terri Hall of Texans Uniting for Reform and Freedom and a veteran toll road opponent, says this sounds like 'debtors prison' to her, and she questions the wisdom of stripping somebody who owes you money of their ability to repay you.
"Imperiling a person's ability to drive by blocking their vehicle registration adversely affects their livelihood and their ability to get to work," she said. "It is counter productive to getting the bill paid."
Ironically, the state is considering allowing private toll road companies the ability to order county clerks to impound your vehicle, at the same time it is considering stripping private red light camera companies of the ability to impound your vehicle for failing to pay a red light camera 'fine.'
Currently, toll lanes are seen in the long term future for Loop 1604 and Interstate 35.