Oklahoma Drivers Receive Old NTTA Bills

Some Oklahoma drivers are getting toll bills for driving on Texas turnpikes without paying tolls -- in some case years ago.

Jerry Gowman of Oklahoma City told The Oklahoman that he received a $56 bill from the North Texas Tollway Authority for charges dating to early 2012. Chelsea Vaughn of Durant said she and her husband got a bill for $265 for charges dating back about a year and a half.

The Texas agency switched to electronic fee collection in 2010 -- leaving out-of-state drivers with no way to pay the tolls -- but the driver's license plates were recorded by cameras at the toll booths.

The turnpike authority has now acquired Oklahoma Tax Commission records that provides the drivers' home addresses -- and the authority is billing them.

In 2012, NBC 5 Investigates discovered nearly 500,000 toll road users were receiving bills for trips that took place months or years prior.  At the time, NTTA customers were only billed after making five trips. That standard was later lowered to customers being billed after three trips.

• [I-TEAM LAWYERED] Almost 500,000 Tollway Users Billed for Old Tolls

Earier this year, the NTTA lowered the threshold even lower and decided to bill all drivers who carry a balance of at least $2.50, or three toll trips, on their accounts.

• NTTA Sending $2.50 Invoices, Billing Oklahomans