BOSTON—Drivers on the Massachusetts Turnpike beware.
The Boston Herald reports that state troopers handed out 722 more speeding citations on the Pike during the first two months of 2008, compared to last year. That's a 12 percent increase.
At that rate, motorists will get hit with 4,332 more tickets this year.
Ashland state Rep. Tom Sannicandro said commuters from west of Boston just saw a toll hike, and shouldn't be targeted for more tickets.
He thinks the Turnpike is using the ticketing as a revenue enhancer.
But Turnpike authority board member Mary Connaughton said troopers are keeping the roads safe, and there's no move to make more money off motorists.
She said patrols are just returning to levels they were at before the 2006 Big Dig tunnel ceiling collapse siphoned troopers away for other duties.
