If you use the 520 bridge, you know you have to pay a toll. If you don’t, you expect the state Department of Transportation to send you a bill for it.

That sounds so reasonable — and fair. But it’s not. In fact, the state is facing a class-action lawsuit claiming the DOT is making it next to impossible for motorists to win an appeal of what can be onerous fines that go along with the missed tolls.

The Legislature needs to fix an obviously flawed system.

The problem is that if you miss paying a toll the DOT says it is under no requirement to tell you about it. The result can be a fine that just keeps growing and growing.

And forget it if you think you can appeal your case and get a reasonable hearing. The DOT sets the fines for missed tolls, doesn’t have to tell you as the fines grow and grow and then has an appeals process that has limits on how much flexibility administrative law judges have in their decisions.

Judge, jury and executioner all in one. And they say government can’t be efficient.

Sen. Andy Hill, who represents Sammamish, has a proposal to improve the DOT’s customer service, address technology gaps and establish a one-time toll penalty amnesty program. All are worth consideration given that losing a class-action lawsuit would be really expensive for the state. Not only would the state likely have to repay toll penalties, but also face triple damages and attorneys’ fees.

The Legislature is scrambling for money to pay for schools and other core functions. Having the state on the hook for a flawed toll system will only make things worse.

It doesn’t have to come to that. The Legislature needs to follow up on Hill’s plan and, if necessary, develop it further.

— Craig Groshart, Bellevue Reporter