Former Fare Evader: Apology To MBTA Was About 'Trying To Do The Right Thing'
BOSTON (CBS) -- Matthew Andrewes of Concord said he used to steal from people when he was a teenager, and would avoid paying fares on the MBTA commuter rail.
But now, at age 31, he's a different person. He told WBZ NewsRadio 1030's Carl Stevens that's why he walked up to a commuter rail ticket window at North Station earlier this month and handed a worker $300, along with a note saying he was sorry for skipping fares in the past.
Andrewes said the gesture was prompted by a change in his spiritual life.
"I'm a Christian," said Andrewes.
He says prayer has helped him to arrive at better decisions.
"It suddenly popped into my head that I had owed the MBTA all this money and I hadn't really thought about it before I just kinda thought, 'Well, I should probably pay them back.'"
But he also said that, over the past ten years, he's been righting the wrongs of his past.
"I think justice is a really good thing, and I think in a case where I've done something that is obviously wrong, [I want] to go and basically try and make that right," Andrewes said.
His note got the attention of MBTA brass Monday, with MBTA chief administrator Brian Shortsleeve saying he appreciated the gesture.
"The MBTA very much appreciates his honesty and willingness to take responsibility for his previous actions," Shortsleeve said in a statement Monday. "When some people dodge the fare, it's not fair to all of the others who pay it, and we hope his expression of regret will reinforce this message."
Andrewes said his decision to send the letter wasn't about ridding himself of guilt.
"It's much more like I'm trying to do the right thing," he said.
WBZ NewsRadio 1030's Carl Stevens reports
