FHP: Toll Cheats On Turnpike Go To Extremes
MIAMI (CBS4) - From covering their license plates with their hands to having someone hang out of the back of a moving vehicle at SunPass tolling stations so cameras can't photograph their tag, it seems some people will try just about anything to skip paying the fare.
Dozens of pictures of people doing strange, and sometimes dangerous things, to avoid paying the tolls have been captured by the cameras at the SunPass plazas.
Drivers whose daily commute on the turnpike includes long stretches of the highway can rack up more than a hundred of dollars in tolls per month.
The FHP said troopers sometimes wait at SunPass plazas to keep an eye out for those who intentionally block their plates, particularly motorcyclists.
The revelations stunned some South Florida drivers.
"I have never heard of that, no," said Janice Tripp.
"It looks like you going to die doing that kind of stuff," said Emily Canney.
CLICK HERE for a gallery of creative toll jumpers.
"It is dangerous and it is stealing my money," said driver Bill Medina.
Turnpike officials said the system lost around $20 million from drivers running tolls in 2011. That's roughly 3 percent of the total of $600 million the state made in revenue last year on toll fees.
"Who knows why; maybe it is economic, maybe just don't feel like sitting in traffic to pay the toll or maybe they just don't want to pay," said Sgt. Mark Wysocky of the Florida Highway Patrol.
The FHP said whether it's a high-tech spray or a low tech hand covering, it's all illegal and those caught will be fined from around $170 all the way up to $1000.
