A Colorado woman was shocked to learn she owed more than $5,000 in unpaid tolls—despite using a valid ExpressToll sticker and paying diligently.
Genna Ryan-Piasecki, a daily commuter from Louisville to the Denver Tech Center, contacted Denver7 Investigates for help after discovering the toll mess.
“I want to pay what I truly owe, but I also want other drivers to know this could happen to them,” she said.
What Went Wrong?
Ryan-Piasecki regularly used E-470’s express lanes with an ExpressToll transponder. But things unraveled after her license plate was stolen this summer.
The DMV flagged her account over $5,000 in unpaid tolls. Confused, she reached out to E-470 and found:
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Her transponder sticker wasn’t registering consistently
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Charges were sent to a License Plate Toll (LPT) account, not her transponder account
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The tolls tied to the LPT account were billed at a higher rate
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Her address change didn’t sync with the DMV, so she never received mailed invoices
“I don’t just have $5,000 lying around,” she told reporters. “It would’ve been a financial disaster.”
E-470’s Response
An E-470 spokesperson called the case a “unique situation” and took the following actions:
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Waived all late fees
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Transferred tolls to her discounted transponder account
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Issued a new sticker tag
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Updated her account info
“Our intent is never to collect fees—only the appropriate tolls,” the agency said, admitting the case should’ve been resolved sooner.
Ryan-Piasecki ultimately paid around $2,000, a fraction of the original bill.
Her Advice to Others:
“Your toll sticker doesn’t work every time, and if you move, change your address with the DMV.”
This cautionary tale serves as a reminder: double-check your toll tag and keep all your contact info up to date—with both your toll account and the DMV.
Katie is a senior who has been on staff for three years. Her favorite type of stories to write is reviews and features. Katie’s favorite ice cream flavor is strawberry.
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