Previous car owner billed for Highway 520 bridge toll

SEATTLE — If you sell your car you could still be billed for highway tolls in Washington until the buyer transfers the title.

It happened to a reporter for The Seattle Times who got billed about $8 for trips across the Highway 520 floating bridge that were actually taken by her old car’s new owner.

Since the tolling began on the bridge at the end of last year there have been 89 cases in which former car owners asked to have the fares and penalties dismissed.

Department of Licensing spokesman Brad Benfield recommends sellers go to a licensing agency with buyers to make sure they sign a new title application.