Complaint Review: HCTRA

Harris County Toll Road Authority charges exhorbitant "violation" fees for using their roads.  if you dare to call in to protest your personal rape session, they are polite enough to tell you that you can pay them even more money if you would just purchase their yearly EZTag.  Katrina, the supervisor I spoke with, will tell you that you can be violated or you can pay more money to be violated further.  These are your only options.  She quoted me the Texas statute 284 that is apparently on every Harris County Toll Road in Houston and offered to send it to my address, which I never received.

I'm new to Texas, having moved here in 2012 for my career.  I love the Renaissance Faire, and had heard that Texas has the best.  I took a trip to Houston for the Renaissance Faire with my family and friends on Halloween weekend.  We arrived 10-31-2015 and left 11-01-2015. 

As I am not familiar with Houston, I used my GPS.  GPS directed me to use some toll roads to get around.  Being familiar with Dallas, as I have traveled through there, I knew that Harris County would just send me a bill in the mail, and I would pay my fee and be done with it.  Boy was I mistaken.  I received my invoice within 2 weeks of taking said toll roads with violation fees of $35 plus $2.25 (which are the actual fees for taking the toll road).  And the top right of the invoice told me it was the "Final" notice.  I was in shock!  I checked the calendar to verify the date.  I called my friend to make sure I hadn't lost time somewhere.  But the date really was less than 2 weeks from my visit to Houston.

I knew that a mistake had been made.  I quickly called in to Harris County Toll Road Authority.  After providing my information, I explain how I was just in Houston less than 2 weeks ago.  There's no way I have $35 in violations.  The lady told me that the violations were accurate.  I exited the toll road where there were no booths.  I can only exit there if I have an EZTag.  "Where is this written?" I demand. "I have never heard of such a thing."  She explains that signs are posted by the side of the exit. 

I explain that I was unable to stop in the middle of the freeway to view one.  She says that they are posted by the exits so we can see them as we are exiting the freeway.  I advise her that I'm an expert reader, however even with my excellent reading skills, I may have missed the sign while navigating traffic in an unfamiliar city, listening to directions from my GPS and trying to make sure I don't miss my exit.  She patiently explains that they are clearly posted with larger than life letters saying, "Violators will be prosecuted!" 

Now I'm tired, I have a headache, and my butt hurts from all the violation.  I request to speak with her supervisor.  That was no better.  The only difference was that now the offer included a year's subscription to EZTag for a mere $55.  If I purchase the EZTag, they will remove their violation.  Now I'm offended, too!  And I get it. 

Harris County Toll Road Authority are highway robbers.  And my car got pulled over for a stick up.