490,000 baht? That's a drop in the bucket compared to the hundreds of millions lost by the PTP on the rice scam.

That's a drop in the bucket compared to what they spent on clocks for Parliament or the renovation of just one office.

Protesters cost EXAT 490,000 baht for taking free rides on tollways

Those who didn't pay didn't COST EXAT a satang. True, it was not collected but not a satang came out of their budget so it is not a 'cost'. Those who didn't pay didn't wear out the tollway or steal parts off it or use up police services. It's just revenue EXAT hasn't collected, yet. Like the rice in the warehouses hasn't cost the government just because they haven't collected the revenue from the sales, yet. In Texas, you don't need a toll tag unless you want to save money. There are no toll collection booths. They photo every license plate and send a bill to those who don't have toll tag accounts. Once your bill gets high enough, they send a policeman to arrest you and your costs go way up. Most everyone pays; it's a lot less hassle.