For anyone who’s accidentally hopped on the Hardy Toll Road without a toll tag, or just wanted to use the Sam Houston Tollway infrequently, there’s about to be a way to set your conscience straight, and potentially avoid a higher cost. But it comes with a risk.

Harris County Toll Road Authority on Wednesday unveiled a revised website, making the toll system’s online presence smartphone and tablet friendly, and increasing the ability of people to manage EZ TAG accounts online.

“We found through the reports about our website that of the people who were managing their account online, half of them were on mobile devices,” said Patti Evans, communications director for HCTRA.

By updating the site, it gives HCTRA “a really great vantage point to make it accessible,” said HCTRA spokeswoman Roxana Sibrian.

In a few days, if all goes according to plan, the offerings will extend to those without a toll tag. In the debut, the agency also said two features were “coming soon” to allow for paying tolls online after using the system without an EZ TAG or other transponder, and for paying violations online.

Prior, someone could call in and pay for tolls or violations.

“This is part of trying to enable customers to self-serve,” Evans said.

Because of the language used when voters approved establishing HCTRA, saying the agency shall collect tolls at the time of tollway use, the agency doesn’t send bills for unpaid tolls and only notifies people with violations. Technically, any use of the toll roads without paying, even by accident, is a violation.

The first violation comes with an additional $5 fee on top of the tolls owed, with the second and subsequent violations costing $33.

Evans said people who pay before receiving a notice, referred to as a “missed toll” but still technically a violation, can go online once the system is active and pay the tolls, plus a $1.50 administrative fee. The crucial part of paying tolls is to do so before they become billed violations, she said.

“The intent of this is to service the out of towner or the accidental user,” Evans said, though the same could apply to anyone who very rarely uses the toll roads.

HCTRA Deputy Director Lisa Castaneda said Thursday officials are trying to be as helpful as possible, but worry people will think using the toll roads without a transponder such as an EZ TAG or TxTag is an option.

"A police officer can still pull you over for not paying the toll," she said.