Bayonne, NJ – The agency that oversees the collection of tolls on the New Jersey Turnpike and Garden State Parkway reported that the agency lost $13.6 million over the last year from motorists not paying the tolls.
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As it turns out, Bayonne resident Sari Ahmet, 32, more than did his part to add to that $13.6 million loss, according to authorities.
Ahmet, a limousine driver, sailed through toll booths without paying a staggering 2,351 times, according to the New Jersey Turnpike.
He was enrolled in EZ-Pass but didn’t have the transponder in his car, officials said.
Ahmet, of New Bay Court in Bayonne, turned himself after receiving calls from detectives and was arrested by State Police on Aug. 26.
State Police Sgt. Stephen Jones said Ahmet, who was charged by the Middlesex County Prosecutor’s Office, had racked up $3,800 unpaid tolls, with an additional $70,000 in administration fees, officials said.
He also owed at least $4,800 to the Port Authority, Jones said.
Jones said that Ahmet was caught on camera driving his 2003 Lincoln Towne Car driving through toll roads and bridges and tunnels.
After his arrest Ahmet was being held on $5,000 bail at Middlesex County jail, Jones said.
“People think they are going to save a few dollars cheating on tolls but in the end they owe much more and possibly end up with a criminal records,” Jones said.
Can someone explain how they caught him. I pay my tolls and I am schocked that this can occur
Why did it take 2351 times before they caught him?
He is not a “car service driver” which makes it sound like this guy works for Rechev or Munkacz. Please stop sensationalizing stories. He is a limo driver, plain and simple.
Is it possible that he simply didn’t pay attention to the EZpass lane’s light (i.e. he didn’t wait for a Green light)?
It says he owns an EZpass so it’s possible, I guess.
Just wondering…
Oh, that reminds me that I did it once by a mistake and need to pay the fine, I almost forgot about it!
taxi and limos are rented from a company to a day shift, then to a night shift. probably thought the taxi owner will have to pay for it.
i live in bayonne so let me tell you this story makes a lot of sense because it happend in bayonne .and only in bayonne this could happen, and if you dont believe me go to bayonne and youll see for yourself
So the agency claims they lost 13 million by cheaters, well how much did they save by having EZ-Pass and not having to hire toll collecters? I am sure it is more than that.
How much would they have saved if they didn’t have e-z pass to begin with, or any tolls at all? They had to build special e-z pass lanes, have to pay toll collectors, service and maintain the machines, it slows down the traffic etc. They have to send bills, and go after those who don’t pay, they had to install cameras etc. They should just have done away with the tolls like they said they would when the road was paid up. But, they are greedy…
He cant speak English and when he saw a lane with no toll taker, he said, “What a wonderful country US is – free tolls for the poor immigrants trying to make a living”. He also doesnt pay taxes to Feds or State, collects wlefare and food stamps and goes to his local mosque every Fri to figure out how to bring the capitalist America to its knees so more Muslims can come to America and enjoy the roads and the bridges for free.
If you have a EZ Pass account, and the transponder didnt pick up, or if you didnt have it in the car, all you need to do when you get a violation letter from them is to respond that you have a EZ Pass account, provide the acct # and send in the cost of the toll alone. This happened to me over a dozen times. I have sent in checks for as little as .75 and its taken care of. Dont ignore those letters