Thursday, 4:30 PM
T to fare cheats: we're watching
An MBTA surveillance camera caught a rider breaking through a fare gate at the Science Park station on the Green Line at 5:50 a.m. Wednesday.
By Globe Staff
The MBTA has a message today for people who want to cheat on their fares: We're watching.
"We now have cameras on every fare gate as well as on our fare vending machines so that if somebody is doing something ... dollars to doughnuts, we're going to get you on camera," said MBTA general manager Dan Grabauskas.
Grabauskas commented after what officials said was a busy period for fare cheaters.
Derek J. Fritts, 25, of Somerville allegedly broke a fare gate at the Courthouse station on the Silver Line last night, but an alert employee saw him on a monitor, MBTA spokesman Joe Pesaturo said.
Fritts was arrested a few minutes later at South Station. He was to be arraigned today in South Boston District Court on a charge of malicious destruction of property.
Officials said they were still seeking the identity of a second man who broke a gate at the Science Park station early this morning.
MBTA officials estimated it would cost $1,300 to replace the broken fare gate at the Courthouse station. Grabauskas said the authority hopes to make Fritts pay for it.
"I hope he thinks it was worth it," Grabauskas said.
