Toll road authorities crack down on drivers who don't have a toll pass

HOUSTON (KTRK) -- Attention drivers, if you have a suspended Harris County Toll Road account, stay off the toll roads.

It's not the day to be on the Beltway with a suspended account. Deputies are out in force looking for drivers who should not be on the beltway. It's very simple, if you owe the Harris County Toll Road Authority money, your car is not supposed to be on the toll roads at all, even in the pay as you go lanes.

HCTRA started cracking down on prohibited vehicles back in 2012. They did it again Tuesday and we got to ride along with deputies. The crackdown started at 8am and 15 minutes later at least a half dozen drivers were pulled over, no surprise to deputies who do this every day.

"Normally we do this enforcement a little bit right in the middle of rush hour because a lot of the violators are going to or from work or on important duties," said Sgt. Alex Gonzalez who is a deputy constable in Precinct 5.

Deputies are also watching to see if drivers pull over for emergency vehicles. Remember, you have to go over one lane when you see emergency vehicles along the roadway. If you can't, you must slow down to 20 miles under the posted speed or you can be ticketed.