HOUSTON -- Another stretch of the Grand Parkway opened to drivers Tuesday, which means drivers can travel along this section without paying any tolls until midnight on April 4.
The Texas Department of Transportation is responsible for maintaining the toll road. When drivers use entrance ramps, they will see signs alerting to multiple toll tag options, including Harris County’s Toll Road Authority's EZ TAG and the state’s TxTag.
Both tags work along all toll roads within the state of Texas.
"TxDOT and the Harris County Toll Road Authority do have a reciprocal agreement," said Harris County Judge Ed Emmett. "Any of the Texas stickers, the TxTag the EZ TAG, anything that works in the state of Texas will work here."
The deal allows for agencies to share a chunk of your change. However, the tags differ in required costs and penalties.
The state's TxTag requires you to pre-pay $20 worth of tolls. Harris County's EZ TAG requires $40 down plus a $15 activation fee.
The state doesn't require you to keep a minimum balance, but if your account is negative when you go through a toll, you will receive a violation.
The EZ TAG reloads your account anytime it gets down to 25 percent of your starting balance. The state allows you to use cash, credit, your bank account or a money order to load your tag.
EZ TAG calls for credit cards or bank accounts to refill your balance.
You you can get either tag online, over the phone, or in person, even if you haven't had one before.
As for penalties, repeat state violators are listed publicly, according to Texas law. Also, in a matter of months, your 65-cent state road toll can soar to more than $300 if unpaid.
Harris County has penalties that can really add up, too, but they're not a part of state law.