U.S. Army Serviceman Returning To Austin From Afghanistan Gets $27K Toll Road Bill

AUSTIN, TX — And you thought your toll road bill was high.

After a 15-month tour in Afghanistan, an Army serviceman from Austin returned home to find a hefty bill from the tolling authority in the amount of $27,637.30, KVUE reported. The breakdown amounts to $1,412.30 for tolls his family supposedly accumulated with $26,225 in added "fees."

Thomas Peterson, the serviceman, was not happy.

"Twenty-six thousand dollars is insane," he told the news station. "That's highway robbery. I can't believe that any agency can get away with this."

Peterson said he called the Texas Department of Public Safety to try to sort it out, only to be told the outstanding bill had been forwarded to a collection agency while directing him to call them, he told the station.

Peterson insists he doesn't mind paying the principal, but he scoffs at paying the inflated fees and hopes they can be reduced: "I'll pay the $1000," Peterson said. "I'll pay $2,000. I'm not paying $26,000."

A TxDOT representative told KVUE they're looking into the matter, saying they would notify them of their decision on Thursday.

>>> Read the full story from KVUE

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