Truck Driver Caught In Fishing Line Scam To Avoid Tolls
by Jana Ritter - Published: 3/11/2016A truck driver was arrested after his botched attempt to use a fishing line to bypass the E-ZPass tolls on the New Jersey side of the George Washington Bridge.
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The incident occurred Wednesday evening at around 7:15 pm when an official saw a tractor-trailer with no front plate and the rear plate bent to avoid being scanned by security cameras. When the E-ZPass sign indicated that the truck driver had not paid the toll, police were alerted. When they pulled over the semi-truck, police officers then discovered a fishing line contraption rigged to the truck. "The vehicle's front plate was rigged on a hinge with monofilament fishing line that ran into the cab and ended on the dash where the suspect could control it to conceal the plate [pull it up out of view], and then restore the plate into view after exiting the toll and security cameras," said police spokesman, Joe Pentangelo.
Javier Marte, 41, of Yonkers was arrested and is now facing multiple charges that include theft of services and tampering with public records. He has also been charged with possession of burglary tools because he "used the line to facilitate the crime,” police said. Considering the cost of the charges incurred on him now and time lost from his job, Marte is now likely wishing he would of sucked up the $126 charge he would have paid without E-ZPass at that hour.
In February 2015, another truck driver was arrested in a similar attempt to bypass the George Washington Bridge E-ZPass tolls. Pablo Ortega of Queens had entered the toll lane with his "James Bond-styled" big rig and authorities quickly clued in. “The vehicle's front bumper was hydraulically lifted, which made the front license plate impossible to be viewed by E-ZPass cameras. The rear plate was also obscured with grease and unreadable,” Pentangelo said. Apparently Ortega pressed a black toggle switch on the vehicle's dashboard to mechanically move the bumper - the sophisticated spy-style kit had cost him about $2,000. The owner-operator had been transporting Gummy Bears and was also charged with tampering with public records and possession of burglary tools.
If he drives across that bridge twice a day, a $2000 fine relates to about 2 weeks of tolls. Let's look at this in a whole...who is really the thief here? $126 to cross a bridge? Fuck NY!
The point of a toll should be to maintain the road, fixing damage, safety inspections, pay for bridge workers, a reasonable profit (if it's a private road), etc. If $126 accurately represents the cost of crossing the bridge then I'd agree with the toll. If the $126 is a hidden tax on goods crossing the bridge where NY is basically taxing goods at every stage as often as possible that is a different story. I don't see how $126 could possibly represent an accurate cost of crossing the bridge, so I expect it's yet another hidden tax.
All the truck drivers that go into that shithole should stop for 2 days and the price of that damn toll would come down.
If you take notice when get thru thru the toll booths, there is a small sign that reads "Bridge condemned. Travel at own risk."
If the fucking greedy government corporations didn't charge such huge toll fees , people wouldn't have to resort to such tactics . I remember when it was $5. to cross that lousy bridge.
Lol bet ny is saving that money for when that crappy ole bridge falls down and they have to pay millions in lost frieght lost lives etc and then build a new bridge.
the damm toll is high for bridge which was deem unsafe by the federal dot but cant be closed because of the traffic volume
He aint the first one to think that one up. Charge a reasonable toll and no one will have to think like that.
However...if you're stupid enough to flip your license plate right in front of a port authority cop then you deserve to be prosecuted. What an idiot.
Possession of burglary tools? $126 toll, I know who I think the crooks are.
Notice it's not a problem at other tolling jurisdictions...
Exactly. Then people look at you like you're nuts when you add a $700+ surcharge to anything going north of the bridge. In some cases depending on which way you leave you could rack up $300 in just tolls easily.
The Port Authority of New York and New Jersey, has a budget bigger than 26 states, is selected by republicrat governors Cuomo & Christie, operates in secrecy and has absolutely no public accountability. … Cha ching $$$ … The 1st time I crossed that bridge in an 18 wheeler, it cost $12. Now it cost $126. Who’s scamming who? ... Lmao... George Washington would be ashamed to have his name associated with the thieves of New York & New Jersey. ... ;~$ …
Cuomo is a Democrat.
Andrew Silcox republicrat ...Are you still confused? Lmal … …
That bridge is falling apart so you know that money goes into someone's pocket
<3
glad he was smart enough to think that up.
Much Agreed
Charging people $126 is a crime unto itself. Thank God I'll never visit!
That's why I do the south and Midwest
Lmao don't blame him, the tolls are outrageous. It use to be $70 in and out, but that was 10 yrs ago.
126? Last time I went over that bridge it was $25.00
I know this won't be a popular opinion. It wasn't popular the last time I posted it on another page. This guys a thief plain and simple he's a thief and he should be prosecuted. All this griping over how much the toll cost is BS. Nobody forces you to drive over that bridge. Unless of course your company driver and you're not paying the toll anyhow.
I'm a company driver so my till is paid. It's not BS to bitch. It is a joke. When was the last time you drove thru there? All the money they make sure and hell is not spent on road work
Yes!
Sue Domenico It's a cost of doing business in that area. The company you/I work for CHOOSE to do business in that area, therefore they must pay to play. Most loads going to or passing through that area carry a premium charge because of this added expense.
The cops are actually being lenient on him. They should be charging him with commission of a felony while operating a CMV and taking his CDL
The last time I used the toll I had to pay the toll plus pay for my lumper. Then it was free to come the other way. Did a short haul to a warehouse in PA and had to pay to cross into PA from NJ. WHEN I NEEDED more money to do a roll off in PA dispatch said I was overdrawn
Cost of doing business in that area??? It's a main route North and most are traveling through and for them to gouge the FUCK out of everyone is a fucking crime itself you moron. Since you think high fees and taxes are so great why don't you offer to pay up more of your earnings to the lousy authorities you shill for government. You must be on the government tit.
Ted Mckenney You make me laugh. Name calling and insults that's the best you got, go on down the road driver.
Ted Mckenney I don't travel that area, I don't live in that area, I don't want nothing to do with that area. That's how I avoid the toll.
Ted Mckenney BTW Ted When I drove for my father 30 years ago we were compensated for every load that went across that bridge. That was 30 years ago if you're not compensated for it today you're getting a shit deal that's not my fault.
If they would only put there superpowers to the good of the world.lol
Must be the G W where a few bodies have been buried in concrete building it years ago.
Agreed
The New Jersey exit taxes. It all depends on which way you exit the state.
126. Been a while since I've been back over it.. last time it was like 50 bucks. How much does the verrazono cost now.. holy sheet
As long as you guys keep going over there they're going to keep on charging you
I hated that bridge.
Wtf 126....
Stupid
$126 is extortion. Simply rediculous
Lol
Stephen Bracker....lol
126$ is legalized stealing. Trying to avoid paying it is illegal stealing. Just depends on which thieve's side you're on as to how you interpret it. I say F' NYC tolls.
Joe Bauer, Eric Larson, Calen Witcher,
Steven Miller
Canada
+1
The Verazanno Bridge was a piece of shit 20 yrs ago, I can only imagine what it's like now.
Fuckup that state let all starve because they are thieves in there tolls for us doing are job but that never happen that state can go to hell far as I'm concern I'm never going there again and haven't for twenty five years
More info on please who agrees?