Patrick
An Oklahoma resident is raising concerns after receiving an unexpected toll bill from the Kansas Turnpike Authority (KTA), tied to a license plate he claims hasn’t been associated with his vehicle for nearly two decades.
The unusual situation has prompted questions about system errors, plate reassignment procedures, and the possibility of similar issues affecting other drivers.
Unexpected Toll Charge Raises Red Flags
Bill Linked to a 16-Year-Old License Plate
Matthew Simonton, a 55-year-old Oklahoma man, was shocked when a toll notice from the KTA arrived in the mail.
According to Simonton, the plate number listed on the bill hasn’t been on his car since 2009—making the charge highly suspicious.
“I haven’t been to Kansas since I was a teenager,” Simonton emphasized, baffled by the sudden toll charge.
Scam or System Error?
Simonton initially questioned whether the notice was fraudulent or the result of a clerical mistake. His attempts to clarify the issue raised even more confusion.
“I thought it had to be either a scam or a major error,” he explained.
Seeking Answers From Service Oklahoma
No Clear Explanation Provided
Simonton contacted Service Oklahoma for clarification but says the responses he received only added more uncertainty. After speaking with multiple representatives, he was told the plate number on the bill was linked to a truck—not his vehicle.
“I talked to four different people and kept getting the runaround,” he said.
State Responds With Clarification
In a statement to News 4, Service Oklahoma explained how license plates are managed:
- Standard plates are never reassigned with previously used numbers, except during a statewide plate reissue.
- During the last mandatory reissue in 2017, only inactive numbers were reused.
- The license plate in question belongs to another Oklahoma driver, and agencies are now working together to correct the records.
The agency confirmed they are collaborating with both the Oklahoma Turnpike Authority (OTA) and the KTA to resolve the error in the system.
Fee Waived, But Concerns Remain
Could This Happen to Others?
Although the KTA removed the charge from Simonton’s account, he remains uneasy about how such a mistake occurred and whether it could impact others.
“I just want to understand what went wrong,” Simonton said. “If it happened to me, it could happen to someone else.”
News 4 reached out to the Kansas Turnpike Authority for further comment but had not received a response at the time of reporting.
The incident highlights how administrative errors involving license plate records can lead to confusion and improper billing. Although the toll fee was ultimately waived, the lack of clear explanation leaves drivers like Simonton questioning the reliability of cross-state toll systems.
As Oklahoma and Kansas authorities work to correct the record, the situation serves as a reminder for motorists to review unexpected bills carefully and verify their accuracy.