Officials Go After Drivers With Unpaid Toll Fees On E-470, I-25
DENVER (CBS4) - Drivers with unpaid tolls are in for a big surprise. Those with several fines on E-470 and the Interstate 25 toll lanes will face a hold on their car registration.
Every time Blaine Stern gets behind the wheel there's a price tag.
"I pay between $70 and $80 every month," Stern said.
But thousands of other drivers don't pay the price on E-470.
"They're basically stealing services," Stern said. "They are stealing a product and not paying for it, and the rest of us are paying for them to use the highway."
Starting in October, drivers who owe at least $200 or more in unpaid tolls won't be able to renew their car registration.
"The number of vehicles is 2,030. That's the size of this first group. We have one customer that owes $8,600," Dave Kristick said, Deputy Executive Director for E-470.
Kristick says those drivers will face warnings early next month and get payment options.
"We think the program is structured, so they have an opportunity to get in touch with us real quick like, so their vehicle registration isn't affected by this process," Kristick said.
But drivers like Teri Nelson believe the Highway Authority should put the brakes on the program.
"A lot of times I've heard from clients and stuff that they've had a hard time getting a hold of them to pay their fines," Nelson said.
Still, Stern hopes it's the driving force to exposing people who don't pay the tolls.
"If that's what it takes to get these people to pay their fair share to use the highway, then that's what needs to be done," Stern said.
