BMW driver owes $90,000 in unpaid fines
A Brisbane BMW driver who's racked up $90,000 in unpaid tolls and fines has told authorities all roads should be free.
The dad, with two leased BMWs,has amassed 359 separate unpaid toll fines and is negotiating with Brisbane City Council (BCC), arguing no road should incur a charge.
A salesman owes $36,000 from 215 fines and a Brisbane woman is $19,000 in debt because she forgot to change her address.
BCC will spend an extra $20 million this year to catch toll evaders on the Go Between and Clem 7 toll roads in the River City.
City Hall earns more money collecting fines than from genuine toll payers.
More than 412,000 tolls went unpaid on the Go Between Bridge and Clem 7 tunnel last year, most are one-offs.
"We've got over 30 cases where people have had over 100 fines individually and haven't paid them," Lord Mayor Graham Quirk told 7News.
"We believe if people use these facilities they should pay the toll and we will continue to pursue them."
Figures obtained by 7News show the budget to chase fines has blown out from $8 million to more than $28 million.
"I think it's a ridiculous amount of money council is wasting just to collect fines," Cr Milton Dick said.
Last year City Hall earned just under $12 million from people paying the Go Between toll and it now expects to earn triple that amount collecting fines.
The RACQ believes better signage would reduce toll evasion.
"A portion is unintentional, a portion of our visitors to Brisbane did not know and do not know they were on a toll road," Susan Furze said.
Queensland Motorways is expected to take over tolling rights by the end of the year.
