Texas losing money on State Highway 121 tickets

by Alan Cohen

The Texas Department of Transportation has begun ticketing people who drive State Highway 121 highway without a tolltag. License plate pictures are taken and bills are sent out. The problem is that people are being billed for the 25 cent toll, and it costs the Department of Transportation 38 cents to mail the ticket to offenders. Some believe that the Texas Department of Transportation is making a statement about the rising costs of mail delivery. Others simply believe the state needs a lesson in arithmetic.

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Blue Shoe Mike says:

<center><h1>Texas Report Shows Toll Roads Not Needed</h1><object height="350" width="425"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/S_rLljO2p_k"><param name="wmode" value="transparent"><embed height="350" src="http://www.youtube.com/v/S_rLljO2p_k" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" width="425" wmode="transparent"></object></center>

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2 years, 11 months ago
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Blue Shoe Mike says:

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Alan Cohen says:

Star Telegram has a follow-up to the 25 cent tickets .... http://www.dfw.com/mld/dfw/16345508.htm

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Pavel Lishin says:

As a government agency, do they actually have to pay to send them out? If they get free mail, technically they're still turning a profit.

Also, how much does the toll cost vs. the 25 cent ticket?

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Mike Orren says:

Local governments get franking privileges from a federal institution like the Post Office. In fact, I don't believe even federal agencies do. The PO is actually self-supporting.

Good question on the Tolls. They have to be more than .25. I'm guessing the ticket is a .25 fine plus the toll? That would make the postage well worth the cost-- at least until the next increase.