Answers to Go with Susan Smith
Q. Is it true that Texas veterans can ride on the state’s toll roads without charge?
A. I turned to the TxTag.org website for the answer to this question. The following information comes from their Frequently Asked Questions – under Veteran Discount Program.
The brief answer is that certain Texas veterans can ride on some toll roads without paying. To support veterans for their service and sacrifice, TxDot provides free use of its toll roads for recipients of these military honors: Congressional Medal of Honor, Air Force Cross or Distinguished Service Cross, Army Distinguished Service Cross, Navy Cross, and Purple Heart. Disabled veterans may also qualify.
What are the requirements to qualify for a disabled veteran license plate?
Veterans can apply for the specialty license plate if they are certified by the Veterans Administration to have a 50 percent service-related disability, or 40 percent due to amputation of a lower extremity. Details about how to apply for the plates are available on the Texas Department of Motor Vehicles’ website.
Veterans must be in a vehicle registered with the State of Texas and displaying a qualified specialty license plate. Tolls will only be waived for vehicles displaying a qualifying specialty license plate.
Do you need a TxTag to be eligible for the veteran toll waiver program? No. A TxTag is not required if you are traveling on toll roads included in TxDOT’s veteran toll waiver program. When driving on these toll roads, your vehicle will be identified by the specialty license plate.
Eligible veterans displaying a qualifying specialty license plate issued by the state of Texas will automatically have toll charges waived on TxDOT toll roads. You do not need to sign up or enroll to receive the toll waiver. If your vehicle’s license plate is not correctly identified by the tolling equipment and you are charged for tolls, contact the TxTag Customer Service Center at 1-888-468-9824.
Which toll roads are included in TxDOT’s veteran toll waiver program? In Central Texas, tolls are waived from State Highway 130 from IH 35 to US 183 (Segments 1 through 4); State Highway 45 North; Loop 1 from Parmer Lane to State Highway 45 North.
Some toll roads in Houston, Dallas and Brownsville are also part of the veteran toll waiver program.
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Each week hundreds of people call or visit the San Marcos Public Library to find information. “Answers To Go” highlights recently received questions. Please visit the library at 625 E. Hopkins St., call 512-393-8200 for information over the phone, or e-mail us through our web-page at www.ci.san-marcos.tx.us/ library.htm.
