A Texas toll road authority is spending 39 cents in postage to deliver bills to motorists asking for just 25 cents. Those who drove a portion of State Highway 121 in Denton County this month are receiving tiny bills for taking the road just once. Because the road has no toll booths, cars that use the road without a toll payment transponder are photographed and a bill issued to the registered owner. The tolling authority imposes a hefty penalty of 21 times the original cost ($5.25) if the vehicle owner ignores the demand for a quarter.

Texas 121 opened in July and began billing users in December. Those who choose to have their movements recorded by photographs instead of the transponder pay an extra one-third in fees, plus an extra $1 handling fee beginning next month. A trip along the full length is $1.80 or $1.40 with a transponder.