My bill to the NTTA of $19.65 was (I admit) late. I then sent in my payment and they returned to me saying it had already been submitted to collections. In less then one month it turned into almost $300.00. I could not pay that. In less then 2 months it turned into almost $700.00. They had not only raised it by 34 times the amount owed in 2 months time, but have some kind of arrangement with TXDOT where people are given citations. This leaves people backed in a corner. If you don't pay you go to jail. This is an astronomical amount to punish a person with. I have used the toll way for years now, and where there have been booths I have always paid...even paying twice, because the booth didn't register all my coins. I wonder how much they make just from that alone?

I am a single mom, who works very hard. I obey all laws even the ones I can't seem to agree with. But this is not a law. This is robbing people who have neither time nor money to defend them selves. It makes my stomach turn at the thought that I possibly have warrants out for my arrest, and one day could be taken in, and my daughter is left stranded at child care. How could this be right, how could this be fair, how could this even be viewed by any perspective as fair and just?

I am at a loss as to what to do. This is extremely devastating to my finances. I pay this money to whom exactly and for what reason exactly? I pay, and then I don't pay for rent? I can break the payment up according to the collection agency...then I just don't pay my car payment and water for 2 months is that right? This whole thing really does leave me speechless. I can give the facts but don't know how to express my feeling about this. When I first realized all this I was shaking mad, and couldn't hold back the tears. I can not afford any part of this except for my $20 bucks and a reasonable late fee.

This is what I have learned in researching why they could possibly throw these fraudulent charges. TXDOT refused to let NTTA bid on the toll way. TXDOT and a private company were already in the middle of a deal for the Toll way. Originally TXDOT dismissed NTTA and refused to let them bid for lack of planning if you will. Underhandedly right in the middle of the deal, NTTA works a deal with TXDOT, and now the private company who gave a verbal agreement they would not sue, collects the tolls for the next 50 years. NTTA gets to collect on all the ridiculous late, admin, and whatever else fees, and TXDOT gets the money from all the citations that are wrongfully issued. NTTA had inadequate information when proposing the deal. They did not know how they were going to finance such a loan and now they have finally figured it out...rob the poor some more, and leave them no choice but to give it to them.

The mayor of North Richland Hills is also the rep of TXDOT. There are more then 12, 000 warrants issued in Collin County as a result of NTTA. Although I am not dismissing the fact that some may be earned and rightfully issued, I have a strong feeling that many are not. While we tie up Collin County's Court system, where does the money go? Future Trinity Mills project, expansion of the toll way to outside of Collin County, and lavish vacations to undeserving crooks who know they can get away with it. Mean while I have to sale this crap, excuse my language. If it wasn't at the risk of losing my job I would boycott, picket, and fight to the end against the North Texas Toll way Authority and TXDOT. I would hope that the privatized company that got the short end of the stick would join in on this fight as well. Every day we hear on the news about corporate scandal. How have we let this go for so long?

I have every intention of fighting this, and every intention of paying…with every hope that this will grow into a class action law suit and in the end I will get the money that is rightfully mine back. How can you even be allowed access to a road with no way of turning back once you know there is no way to pay? Might I mention there was no notice that tolls were now being enforced? This, to me is a clear set up and the people responsible for passing this law know it. Trying to cover a mistake, and then learning how to capitalize on it. This isn’t freedom. This is control, and everybody knows it.