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 Dave Ross
520 tolls
KIRO Radio's Luke Burbank learned the hard way he's on the hook for 520 tolls racked up by his former car because two state agencies don't seem to be communicating. (MyNorthwest.com file)

You could still be on the hook for 520 toll bills for a car you've sold

BY Josh Kerns  on February 26, 2013 @ 11:37 am (Updated: 12:06 pm - 2/26/13 )

KIRO Radio's Luke Burbank is in trouble with the state for unpaid tolls on 520. But unlike many of his other unpaid bills, for once it's not his fault (well, not entirely.)

Luke got a letter in the mail this week saying he owed $71 in unpaid tolls. But when he took a look at the picture of his license plate attached to the bill, he noticed it was actually from his old car he'd traded in months ago at a local dealership. And the charges happened after he got rid of it.

"I called up WSDOT yesterday and talked to somebody there and they said, 'It's not just this $71 that you owe there's another charge that's about to go to collections,'" Luke told co-host Dave Ross.

Luke quickly contacted the dealership, who told him it's a regular problem - so much so they have a dedicated person who meets with WSDOT weekly to resolve license issues.

"It was out of control, for months it was a battle," said a representative of the dealership in an email to Luke. "Since then, [we] have worked out a process with WSDOT," she said.

The problem seems to be a disconnect between DOL and WSDOT. Lucky for Luke, the dealership has stepped in to resolve it.

"I can't help but imagine that this is some problem at the state level."

But WSDOT spokesperson Patty Michaud said ultimately it's up to a car seller to notify the Department of Licensing when a car is sold, and it's a good idea to confirm that yourself rather than relying on the dealership (despite their good intentions.)

It's a good lesson for everyone. As for Luke, he'll need to dispute the charges and file a formal notice of sale with DOL and WSDOT to get the charges reversed. But Michaud says it shouldn't be a problem, as long he acts quickly before it goes to collections.

Still, Luke isn't totally satisfied. He trusts the dealerships' word that it filed the notice of change of ownership. And beyond that, he thinks the system should be more intuitive.

"They should have known it wasn't me because one of them was 5:30 in the morning on like a Wednesday crossing 520," he joked.

"You're not even conscious then," replied Dave.

Josh Kerns, MyNorthwest.com Reporter
Josh Kerns is co-host of KIRO Radio's Seattle Sounds (Saturday nights 7-8) and a digital content producer for MyNorthwest.com.
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Comments (19)


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  • The Real Me wrote...
    Reflectivity? HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!
    February 26, 2013 1:59 pm
    Keep voting DUMBOCRAT. The reason plates need to be replaced due to "reflectivity" is because certain powerful democrat legislators are totally in bed with 3M (the company that makes the reflectivity material) and 3M did the "empirical study" that determined that all plates needed to be replaced every seven years. If you don't believe me, LOOK IT UP. Morons! Keep voting DUMBOCRAT.
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  • Chuck Gould wrote...
    Reflectivity.......for radar guns
    February 26, 2013 4:16 pm
    I have heard that traffic radar aims for the license plate. Big flat reflective surface that will produce a predictable radar echo. Uniform on all cars, so no argument that the hood of your car reflected an incorrect signature.

    They used to sell a special clear plastic filter you could put over your license plate if you tended to speed. The numbers were still visible, but the radar reflection was affected in a way that made it hard for the cops to get a reading on your speed. The covers were promptly made illegal, of course. :-)

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  • Chuck Gould wrote...
    http://radarlicensecover.com/
    February 26, 2013 4:21 pm
    Let your conscience be your guide. :-)

    Not legal in many states- don't know about WA.

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  • lazarus wrote...
    Radar 'reflects' off the 'uniform' license plates on all vehicles...
    February 27, 2013 9:57 am
    Ok, ever take any physics? Of course not. Radar will reflect off the FLAT surface of the plate, and generally the material is of little concern, plastic or metal. The 'reflectivity' you are referring to is in the visible spectrum. Not in the Microwave region that modern radar guns use. Further, the perfect reflector on every vehicle that does not have hidden headlights older corvettes for example, is the parabolic REFLECTOR integral to every headlight,turn signal or fog lamp which makes the most efficient radar target on any vehicle.... not the license plate. So your argument that these the plate replacement program is to increase radar reflectity is nonsense. Further, the comment about 'covers' that reduce the radar signature of any vehicle is crap on it's face and doesn't require rebuttal.
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  • TYR wrote...
    Reflective plates
    February 26, 2013 4:59 pm
    are continually being read by more and more police and law enforcement agencies. These readers will soon be commonplace in cruisers everywhere. Big Brother lurks! And the heck of it is the younger generations have no problem with it.
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  • Lazy Eye wrote...
    Sellers responsibility
    February 26, 2013 5:11 pm
    NEVER trust someone to do what you yourself should do. Any time I sell a vehicle I walk into the nearest DOL office and process the sellers report of sale immediately. It costs $5.00 but they will process it on the spot and give you an official "release of interest". Had you done the responsible (and required) thing, you more than likely wouldn't have this issue to deal with or at a minimum you would have the documentation to dispute any issue that may arise. This one, is on you Luke.
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