Two Western Pa. men charged with theft after allegedly failing to pay over $5k each in turnpike fees

By Terri Hill | October 10, 2018

The Pennsylvania Turnpike Commission has started cracking down on those who refuse to pay their tolls and have charged two men who have racked up over $12 thousand in tolls and fees, and refuse to pay.

Andrew Betts, of Plum, and Christopher Visco, of Irwin, are the first to be charged under a new initiative between the Allegheny County District Attorney’s Office and the Commission to prosecute those who intentionally refuse to pay tolls.

Both men face one count each of theft of services, according to private criminal complaints filed against them by the Commission and approved by the DA.

In Betts’s case, the complaint alleged he used the turnpike in Warrendale 97 times between March 1, 2017 and May 29, 2018 and owes $5,936 in unpaid tolls and fees.

Visco, the complaint alleged, used the turnpike 111 times between Aug. 1, 2014, and Oct. 2, 2014, and owes a total of $6,484 in unpaid charges.

 

According to the complaints, both men have failed to respond to “numerous attempts” by officials to contact them concerning the unpaid fees and tolls.

Preliminary hearings in both cases are scheduled for Nov. 7.

Terri Hill  can be contacted at terri.hill@grantstreetnews.com