A Pennsylvania trucking company is under fire for $27,000 worth of unpaid tolls, officials say.
Forrsmith Logistics Services in Yeadon owned by 41-year-old Darnell Smith has been accused of ‘ripping off’ the Pennsylvania Turnpike between May 2012 and July of this year, reported CBS Philly.
According to prosecutors, trucks registered to Forrsmith Logistics Services were caught on camera rolling through the Valley Forge Interchange on the PA Turnpike without an E-Z Pass hundreds of times in the last eight years – $27,000 worth of trips.
“We’ve charged him for owing $27,000 — over $27,000 in tolls,” said Bucks County Assistant District Attorney Jovin Jose.
This is the first case to accuse a business of ‘cheating’ tolls in Montgomery County since Montgomery and Bucks Counties teamed up with the PA Turnpike earlier this year, announcing a more aggressive approach to catching toll evaders.
“When you have individuals evading tolls, not just once or twice, but hundreds of times, that’s not only unfair to other motorists and law-abiding citizens, it’s also criminal,” Jose said.
Despite the accusations, Smith denies the situation, saying “It wasn’t a ripoff. It was a misunderstanding, that’s all.”
Smith is being charged with theft of services and waived his preliminary hearing on August 24th.
According to court documents, Smith told detectives that he will pay when he has the money but that he is not in that position right now.