Two Collection Agencies Going After Illinois Toll Cheats

The tollway wants to get tougher on those who blow off tolls. The Illinois State Toll Highway Authority is ready to pay $2.5 million to two collection services if they can cure the chronic problem of scofflaws ignoring their debts.

"For the sake of the 97 percent of the people who pay their fair share, we have to go after the 3 percent who don't," tollway executive director Jack Hartman said. "This is just another weapon in our arsenal."

GC Services, a Houston collection agency, will be paid a maximum of $2 million a year to go after toll cheats who repeatedly ignore warnings and administrative hearings to settle their fines.

Linebarger Googan Blair & Sampson, a Texas law firm specializing in collection litigation, will be paid a maximum of $500,000 if the crackdown requires any trips to court.

The amount paid to both firms will depend on how much money they collect for the tollway. The tollway board is poised to approve the agreements next week.

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