New York Driver Discovers Check Alteration After Paying Speeding Ticket
Barbara Madison was among the 25,000 drivers ticketed by the New York State Department of Transportation’s automated speed radar on I-490 in downtown Rochester. Upon receiving the speeding ticket in the mail, Madison was unaware of the radar system’s enforcement.
“I didn’t want to fight it. I was probably guilty,” Madison said, opting to pay the $50 fine for driving 11 miles over the 40 mph speed limit.
Following the instructions on the DOT website, Madison wrote a check for the fine, but due to limited space, she abbreviated the required phrase “NYS Work Zone Speed Enforcement Program” to “NYS work zone speed.”
“It’s close enough to let me know that’s what the check is for,” she explained.
However, after mailing the check to the state’s third-party vendor in Philadelphia, Madison noticed something concerning when the check was cashed. The payable line had been altered to a series of numbers.
“Somebody had altered the payee,” Madison said. “You can’t alter a check.”
News10NBC Chief Investigative Reporter Berkeley Brean has been investigating these automated ticketing systems, which allow drivers to pay online or by phone with a surcharge. Madison had chosen to use the mail option, but after her check was returned altered, she realized something was wrong.
“I had no idea they were doing this,” Madison said.
Between September and early November, the automated radar ticketed 25,000 drivers in just 26 days.
The New York State Department of Transportation has acknowledged the issue, stating that they are currently looking into the matter with their payment processing vendor. Drivers who paid by check are advised to review their accounts for any discrepancies.
