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They’re not the only elderly driver on the east coast to be wrongfully charged because of toll evaders, revealing an emerging trend.
You’ve probably heard of Beda Koorey from New York, the Star Trek fan who was sent over $16,000 in toll fines from various states thanks to novelty USS Enterprise plates bought online. They mimicked the license plate numbers she paid extra for back in the day, but have been surrendered after she sold her car.
While charges against her were cleared after several months of stress and phone calls, another elderly couple just a few states over were dealing with a similar issue.
Mary Smith is head-over-heels for her vintage Ford Mustang. She’s taken care of it meticulously since she bought it decades ago and keeps it in the garage. Due to her age, the garage is usually where it stays.
So, imagine her surprise this last November when she started seeing fines from a car in New Jersey with identical plate numbers to her Mustang.
“We got a letter in the mail and we were confused, like, ‘What’s this? New Jersey Turnpike? That’s weird.’ I opened it and it’s a bill,” she told WFSB. “I said to my husband, ‘Damn! That wasn’t our Mustang, it was never there.”
Talking to authorities didn’t help clear the toll fines
Mary feverishly contacted the transportation department to clear her name, and she figured the drama was put to rest. However, the violation notices kept coming.
“Some days we’d get two bills. Other days we’d get just one. Just one after another, they kept coming,” she said. When notices came with pictures, Mary appealed with a picture of the Mustang to prove it wasn’t her driving in Jersey.
Progress wasn’t made to clear the fines until the media got involved. Reporters contacted both state agencies she received notices from, and explained her issue. A representative from both ends said her account was cleared, and notified authorities to help find the faker.
Mary’s happy her Mustang isn’t being framed anymore.
“I don’t have to go through this anymore,” she said. “After three months, it’s a blessing.”