April 18, 2014 By Christian Murray
A Long Island City cab driver has been charged for crossing the RFK Bridge more than 3,000 times without paying a dime in tolls.
Rodolfo Sanchez, 69, who faces up to seven years in prison, was been able to get around paying the toll by tailgating the vehicle in front of his cab, which allowed him to pass through the toll lane before the barrier came down. The incidents all occurred between 2012 and 2014.
Queens District Attorney Richard Brown said that Sanchez had effectively stolen more than $28,000 from the MTA by failing to pay the tolls.
MTA Bridges and Tunnels Chief of Security Donald Look said, “This type of behavior is egregiously unfair to the millions of honest, motorists who pay tolls every day, and we will continue efforts to root out toll evaders and prosecute them to the fullest extent of the law.”
Sanchez has been charged with third-degree grand larceny, theft of services and fifth-degree criminal possession of stolen property.
Sanchez, according to the complaint, allegedly had an inactive E-Z Pass in his vehicle that had been reported lost in 2010.
The pass, however, still emitted signals while Sanchez went through the toll, prosecutors said. That’s how investigators discovered that he was getting a free ride.
Investigators looked through security footage and noticed his cab drive through tolls without paying.
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It the Triborough Bridge dammit!