Dallas and Houston tolls

[BeeBoop]

How do I pay Houston and Dallas tolls if I'm out of state? Sometimes I visit and there are no booths to pay. I never received a bill in the mail either. Am I going to get a ticket or fine? I did a quick google search and basically found that I don't have to pay because it cost too much to send me a bill for a few dollars. That true?

 

[TonyG]

Depends on what state you are from. I believe that in the last few years they have started sharing license plate info with some states and sending out bills. I do not think they do this with all states yet, but they are storing the info for future billing. I have had toll bills show up from over a year ago for less then $2, so they will send them if they have your info, and that is with having a toll account. Also, they certainly don't mind tacking on large late fees for past due bills. If you are really worried about it, you should be able to call up the toll company and pay it over the phone.

 

[xaeniac]

just don't run a toll in MA

 

[BeeBoop]

just don't run a toll in MA

lol, what happens if I do? The problem with Dallas is that, there is no place for out of state drivers to pay. There are no collection booths. It's just a camera.

 

[CountZero]

How do I pay Houston and Dallas tolls if I'm out of state? Sometimes I visit and there are no booths to pay. I never received a bill in the mail either. Am I going to get a ticket or fine? I did a quick google search and basically found that I don't have to pay because it cost too much to send me a bill for a few dollars. That true?

When I lived in Dallas I rarely used toll roads and never got the rfid thing for the car. They only sent a bill when the total was high enough to be worth the effort (I never did determine what that level was, only got billed twice each for several tolls in total with months between them). I went through a zip cash lane once and then not again for nearly two years and I only got a bill after that second trip through.

Being out of state they can really only bill you if your state shares your address. I'd guess if you were from any nearby state or any state that itself has lots of tolls they will share that info.

TL;DR If you only racked up a very small amount it will probably never show. If it was big enough you'll get something in the mail eventually.

 

[MetalMat]

Depends on the state.

 

[ElFenix]

most houston toll roads have booths. and there's little need for visitors to use the two that don't.

 

[dougp]

most houston toll roads have booths. and there's little need for visitors to use the two that don't.

Yeah, you'd either need to be on the Grand Tollway (99 South), Westpark, Katy HOV/Toll lane, Fort Bend toll road or the Hardy toll road to not see a booth.

 

[jersiq]

Yeah, you'd either need to be on the Grand Tollway (99 South), Westpark, Katy HOV/Toll lane, Fort Bend toll road or the Hardy toll road to not see a booth.

Some of the North and West Beltway-8 entrances are unmanned. Not sure about South and East though.

 

[dougp]

Some of the North and West Beltway-8 entrances are unmanned. Not sure about South and East though.

True, but they are few and far between.

Fucking roads shouldn't even be tolled to begin with, especially if they can't make them big enough to begin with.

 

[MrPickins]

most houston toll roads have booths. and there's little need for visitors to use the two that don't.

The ones around Austin are all unmanned now.

 

[jersiq]

True, but they are few and far between.

Fucking roads shouldn't even be tolled to begin with, especially if they can't make them big enough to begin with.

Have to agree with you there. I just relocated from Houston to Dallas to find that I have to pay 1 or 2 dollars just to pick someone up or drop off at DFW.

 

[Markbnj]

Yeah, you'd either need to be on the Grand Tollway (99 South), Westpark, Katy HOV/Toll lane, Fort Bend toll road or the Hardy toll road to not see a booth.

And no out of state-er could possibly drive on those roads? I remember this situation from the last time I was there ten years ago, and I ended up on one of them somehow. Just drove through. Figured they can come get me in Jersey if they want.

 

[Leros]

If you're out of state, I think you're off the hook. If you're in state, they send you a bill where you end up paying about 3x the normal toll fee.

Pro-tip: each bill is individual, they don't accumulate. If you get two $3 bills, you owe $6. If you pay $3, you'll get a bill for $100 in 6 months for that other $3 bill plus $97 of late fees. There are horror stories where people find out they owe thousands of dollars in late fees.

 

[dougp]

And no out of state-er could possibly drive on those roads? I remember this situation from the last time I was there ten years ago, and I ended up on one of them somehow. Just drove through. Figured they can come get me in Jersey if they want.

Correct you are, or you can get temporary "tags" - i.e. they read your license plate and the money you assigned to it.

 

[MrPickins]

If you're out of state, I think you're off the hook. If you're in state, they send you a bill where you end up paying about 3x the normal toll fee.

Actually, they bill you the normal rate, but if you have a TxTag, it's 25% off (in Austin anyway).

 

[UglyCasanova]

I live in Louisiana and they mailed them to me. It was a combined invoice from my trips to both Dallas and Houston. From the invoice is a link to their website that let's you pay.

Edit: I guess I should add that I didn't sign up or anything, the cameras recognized not only the characters of my plates but also that they were from Louisiana. From there the bill was sent to the address I have I guess on file at the DMV.

There was also a several month lag from when I went there and when I got the bill.

 

[BeeBoop]

I live in Louisiana and they mailed them to me. It was a combined invoice from my trips to both Dallas and Houston. From the invoice is a link to their website that let's you pay.

Did they make you pay extra? If so, maybe I should just get a toll tag.

 

[Leros]

Actually, they bill you the normal rate, but if you have a TxTag, it's 25% off (in Austin anyway).

That's new. I used to pay about $2.50 for a $0.75 toll, but I've had a TxTag for the past several years.

 

[who?]

The overhead signs may say "Texas residents only" but if you didn't look up the other highways in the area what are you going to do? My brother told me I should take the Bush so I took the Bush.

 

[UglyCasanova]

Did they make you pay extra? If so, maybe I should just get a toll tag.

I have no idea, I don't think so.

 

[CPA]

most houston toll roads have booths. and there's little need for visitors to use the two that don't.

OP, more specifically, The Sam Houston Tollway and Hardy Tollway do. The Westpark and new Grand Parkway tolls do not have booths. So, avoid the latter. Also, if on Westside, don't accidentally enter the HOV lanes.

BTW, I was up in Dallas a few months ago. I inadvertently, thanks to no signs warning of such, entered a tollway and ended up going through one toll monitor before exiting. Never got a bill.

 

[minendo]

How do I pay Houston and Dallas tolls if I'm out of state? Sometimes I visit and there are no booths to pay. I never received a bill in the mail either. Am I going to get a ticket or fine? I did a quick google search and basically found that I don't have to pay because it cost too much to send me a bill for a few dollars. That true?

You'll get a bill at some point. If you are that worried about it just open a TXTag account and put $20 on it. You can do it all online.

Also, the only roads that I am aware of (in Houston) that don't have manned booths (or exact change) are Grand Parkway and Fort Bend Tollway. Not sure on Westpark as I don't use it.

 

[MrPickins]

That's new. I used to pay about $2.50 for a $0.75 toll, but I've had a TxTag for the past several years.

Yeah, it may be new. I've also had the TXTag for several years, so I'm not sure when it changed.

 

[squarecut1]

Been to Houston. The quality of roads is awful