Toll Violations in Florida: How a $2 Toll Becomes a $500 Court Case

You drove through a toll booth on the 408, 417, or 528 and didn't realize your transponder didn't register. Or maybe you borrowed a car without a transponder. Six months later, you get a court summons from the Central Florida Expressway Authority (CFX) with citations totaling hundreds of dollars. How did a $2 toll become a $500 legal problem?

How Toll Violations Escalate

Under Florida Statute § 316.1001, failure to pay a toll is a noncriminal traffic infraction. The maximum fine is $100 per violation. But that's not where the money adds up.

The Escalation Timeline

Initial violation: $1-3 toll not paid through the gantry.
First notice (30 days): Toll authority sends invoice. Now $25-30 with "administrative fees."
Second notice (60 days): More fees added. May now be $50-60.
Uniform Traffic Citation issued: After multiple notices, CFX issues a court citation.
Court costs added: The clerk adds $100+ in mandatory court costs per citation.
Multiple citations: Each unpaid toll becomes its own citation.

Real example: A client came to us with 15 toll violations. Original tolls: ~$30. After fees and court costs: over $1,500 in potential fines and costs.

Why People Get Toll Citations

Most people with toll violations aren't trying to dodge tolls. Common scenarios include:

Scenario	What Happened
Rental car	Rental company's transponder didn't work or you forgot to add the rental toll option
Sold vehicle	New owner didn't transfer title properly; tolls billed to your old address
Stolen/cloned plates	Someone else using your tag number
Transponder malfunction	E-PASS or transponder battery died or wasn't mounted correctly
Wrong address	Notices mailed to old address; never received
Borrowed car	Friend or family member didn't have a transponder

The Central Florida Expressway Authority (CFX)

In Central Florida, most toll roads are operated by the Central Florida Expressway Authority (CFX). They manage the 408 (East-West Expressway), 417 (Central Florida GreeneWay), 528 (BeachLine), 429 (Western Beltway), and others.

CFX has become increasingly aggressive about toll enforcement. They regularly issue Uniform Traffic Citations that end up in Orange County traffic court. And because each toll is a separate violation, a few weeks of commuting can result in dozens of citations.

What Happens in Toll Court

When you receive a toll citation, you have options:

Pay the fine: Admit guilt, pay the full amount including court costs. Points may apply.
Request a hearing: Appear in court and contest the violation.
Hire an attorney: We appear on your behalf and negotiate with the prosecutor.

Our Track Record: 774+ Toll Cases Dismissed

We've handled over 2,000 toll violation cases. In the majority, we negotiate most or all citations dismissed, with the client paying a reduced amount on the remaining violations.

Defense Strategies for Toll Violations

Consolidation

Negotiate with the prosecutor to consolidate multiple citations into a single payment, dismissing the rest.

Notice Challenges

Did they mail notices to the correct address? Failure to properly notify you can be a defense.

Evidence Review

Is the photo clear enough to identify the plate? Is there proof you were driving?

Payment Plans

For clients who can't pay lump sums, we can sometimes negotiate payment arrangements.

What NOT to Do

Don't ignore the citations. Failure to appear can result in a driver's license suspension.
Don't just pay without reviewing. You may be able to get citations dismissed.
Don't assume it will go away. CFX actively prosecutes toll violations.

The Bottom Line

A small toll violation can snowball into a major financial headache. But with the right approach, most toll citation cases can be significantly reduced or dismissed. If you're facing multiple toll violations, an attorney can negotiate on your behalf and often save you more than the cost of representation.

That $2 Toll You Forgot About? It Could Cost You $500.