Lower-cost Tags Offered For Infrequent Toll Users

DALLAS (AP) — The North Texas Tollway Authority is cutting the cost of opening an account, offering drivers "starter" tags for $20 instead of regular ones that cost double that.

The Dallas Morning News reports (http://dallasne.ws/1cXczVg ) that with the new accounts, drivers will have their credit or debit cards charged $20 when their account drops below $5.

The less costly accounts are meant for drivers who don't use toll roads frequently.

Starter tag users will be automatically converted to regular accounts if they rack up $40 in monthly tolls three months in a row.

Officials created the program following surveys of drivers who use toll roads but don't have automatic-payment tags

More than half said they didn't use toll roads enough to justify initial and recurring fees of $40 required by normal accounts.

___

Information from: The Dallas Morning News, http://www.dallasnews.com

Copyright 2013 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.