Jun 24, 2008 10:40 pm US/Eastern
Mass Pike Toll Takers Accused Of Pocketing Fares
BOSTON (WBZ) ―
Ten toll takers on the Massachusetts Turnpike have been charged with skimming from the money they collected.
Suffolk County District Attorney Dan Conley announced the arrests Tuesday afternoon.
The suspects all worked on the Mass Pike at the William F. Callahan and the Ted Williams Tunnels. They are accused of mis-reporting the types of vehicles passing through their lanes and pocketing the difference.
"Toll collectors would classify some of the taxi cabs or other commercial vehicles as ordinary vehicles but charge the drivers the higher toll rate and pocket the difference," Conley said.
Conley said the suspects would also manipulate the timing switch used to count cars passing through the tolls so that two vehicles would be counted as one. Each car would pay, and the collectors would pocket one fare.
The dollars stolen through these schemes would range from $20 to $150 per toll collector, per shift, amounting to thousands of dollars.
Conley said the 7-month long investigation began last October when the Turnpike Authority uncovered evidence of the alleged ongoing schemes. During the investigation, officials reviewed surveillance video at both the William F. Callahan and the Ted Williams Tunnels.
The alleged schemes come during a sensitive time for drivers when more toll increases are being discussed.
"It was very foolish of them to think they could get away with it," one driver told WBZ. "You try and get to the airport from Framingham and it costs ten bucks. Now they're pocketing the money. We put the money in and they take it...not good."
The accused toll takers are expected to be in court Friday.
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