The North Texas Tollway Authority will ban the vehicles of habitual violators from its roadways beginning in January 2014.

Vehicle bans will be used in conjunction with the NTTA’s other toll enforcement efforts, including vehicle registration block, to ensure fair payment from all toll road users, according to a release from the authority.

Legislation passed by Texas lawmakers defines habitual violators as those with 100 or more unpaid tolls and two notices of nonpayment within a one-year period. It says many of these habitual violators ignore requests for payment and continue to drive on NTTA roadways, says the authority.

Although those subject to the ban have already ignored multiple NTTA invoices requesting payment, they will soon receive additional notice that they are subject to the ban before it takes effect. Violators may request a hearing to challenge their habitual violator status.

NTTA says a habitual violator who enters an NTTA roadway in violation of the vehicle ban and is stopped by law enforcement may be issued a citation (Class C misdemeanor), which may carry a fine up to $500. If a habitual violator then continues to drive on NTTA roadways in violation of the ban, their vehicle may be impounded until all outstanding tolls are paid.

Vehicle ban notices may be issued to habitual violators in all North Texas counties. Automatic license plate readers will be installed on several DPS vehicles in December to assist in enforcement of the vehicle ban.

Any NTTA customer who has a question about their outstanding tolls may call NTTA Customer Service at 972-818-6882.

NTTA oversees the Dallas North Tollway, President George Bush Turnpike ,Sam Rayburn Tollway, Addison Airport Toll Tunnel, Lewisville Lake Toll Bridge and Mountain Creek Lake Bridge.