NJ Transit cracks down on ticket fraud

More than 200 arrests related to counterfeit activity have been made in the past two years. Agency train crews began using UV scanners to inspect weekly and monthly passes, which now contain an anti-counterfeit measure that can only be detected with these special UV scanners.

Staff Writer・Editorial

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July 16, 2012

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Announcing that more than 200 arrests related to counterfeit activity have been made in the past two years, NJ Transit and NJ Transit Police Department (NJTPD) officials unveiled a series of new measures being undertaken to avert the usage of counterfeit tickets aboard NJ Transit trains, buses and light rail vehicles.

Internal NJTPD research shows that the production and distribution of counterfeit tickets has continued to climb, particularly on the rail division.

“These are not victimless crimes,” said NJ Transit Police Chief Christopher Trucillo. “These criminal acts financially penalize the hundreds of thousands of NJ Transit customers who lawfully utilize our system every weekday. Let me be crystal clear. If you are using a counterfeit ticket, we will catch you, we will arrest you, and we will prosecute you.”

To further protect taxpayers and customers, NJ Transit introduced a new, highly-visible procedure to ensure the integrity of weekly and monthly rail tickets. As part of this approach, NJ Transit train crews began using UV scanners to inspect weekly and monthly passes, which now contain an anti-counterfeit measure that can only be detected with these special UV scanners.

The UV scanners, which are also being utilized by light rail fare collection officers and both uniformed and plain clothed officers aboard NJ Transit buses, are capable of scanning weekly and monthly passes displayed in customers’ plastic ticketholders. Customers will not be required to remove their passes from their ticketholders unless the scanner is unable to detect the anti-counterfeit measure, at which time the train crew member will request that the ticket be removed for further inspection.

On March 1, NJ Transit Police and the Monmouth County Prosecutor’s Office announced the arrest of a NJ Transit conductor and accomplice for defrauding NJ Transit of thousands of dollars, following the results of a seven-month investigation. Further valuable information attained through this successful collaboration continues to be utilized as part of this ongoing law enforcement effort.