SAINT AUGUSTINE, Fla. — Kathleen Dietrich of Saint Augustine said the Florida Department of Transportation has billed her dozens of times for nearly $60 in unpaid tolls.
She said it wasn't her car that ran the tolls, and she doesn't even use the tag number they're billing her for.
First Coast News’ On Your Side team started digging into the mishap for her.
Dietrich got an invoice in the mail in January saying she had unpaid toll charges from Miami. The invoice said she was driving a Honda Accord, but she said she's never been to Miami and she drives a Kia Soul.
"The man at the DMV said I had to straighten it out or I'd never be able to renew my license," said Dietrich.
Dietrich bought a car in May and used a temporary tag until she replaced it with her permanent tag.
Her temporary tag, which is still sitting on her kitchen counter, expired in June. The invoices start in May, but continue through the Summer.
"They were things tolls I had run which I didn't with my temporary tag which is still have, so how could they have it on their car?"
Dietrich thinks the tag in the invoice is fake because a close-up of the tag shows it's missing an expiration date.
Pages of violations adding up to nearly $60 brought Dietrich to the Department of Motor Vehicles.
"They were very nice but they said there was nothing they could do," said Dietrich.
She said they told her to call Sunpass.
"I made many phone calls... many phone calls, sent one letter and one email with explanation," said Dietrich.
She said she did not get a response, so First Coast News made the calls.
A spokesperson with the DMV told First Coast News this happens frequently, but that they work with people to get the proof they need to fight it. They help verify tags for drivers.
A spokesperson from Florida Department of Transportation told First Coast News drivers can go online to submit a complaint or dispute, or call their customer service line at 1-888-TOLL-FLA.
FDOT said they would get back to us with more information for drivers in the same predicament.
Dietrich said she hopes FDOT works to prevent this from happening to other drivers.
"Possibly when they get these pictures, investigate whether it's a real one or a counterfeit one,” said Dietrich. “Don't go after the innocent people, find out who these people are.”
The spokesperson from the Florida Department of Transportation said they will be looking into Dietrich's case specifically. They said if they do find that someone is using a tag illegally, they will contact law enforcement.