E-470 is going cashless.

Drivers without prepaid transponder accounts will be mailed bills instead of fines when they go under the high-speed toll plazas, the board that oversees the highway decided.

For six months beginning Jan. 1, drivers without prepaid accounts can try the nonstop tolling or can continue to pull over to the side and pay the toll collectors.

But on July 4, the toll booths will be closed and nonstop tolling will be the only method used.

"It's a significant change and a number of tolling authorities are moving in this direction," said Dan Christopherson, spokesman for the E-470 Authority.

Nothing changes for drivers who already have E-470's prepaid EXpressToll transponders.

The plan relies on E-470's existing system of cameras that read license plates of every vehicle that go through toll plazas.

For those who don't have an account, a bill will be mailed to the address where the vehicle is registered, Christopherson said. It remains to be decided how often a bill will be sent and whether any additional fees will be tacked on.

But drivers who do not pay the bills will be hit with a fine for toll evasion, currently $70.

"It makes it a lot more convenient for people because you don't need to have exact change or an adequate amount of money with you," Christopherson said.

The plan affects only the E-470 toll stations, and not the ones on Northwest Parkway or on CDOT's I-25 Express Toll Lane. Drivers still will have a cash toll option at the plaza on Northwest Parkway, while CDOT fines solo drivers who don't have a prepaid account on the I-25 toll lane.

There are five toll plazas on E-470's 46-mile main line, along with unstaffed coin booths at many of the entrance and exit ramps. About 114 people work in toll collection for the agency. They will be given opportunities to transfer to customer service jobs before the change takes place, Christopherson said.

flynnk@RockyMountainNews.com or 303-954-5247