Aug 13, 2008 7:03 pm US/Eastern
Computer Glitch Costs LIRR, Metro North Big Bucks
Thieves Make Off With $800,000 Worth Of Free Tickets
NEW YORK (CBS) ―
It wasn't a seven-year itch, but a seven-year glitch that created an irritating and very expensive error for the Metropolitan Transportation Authority.
CBS 2 HD spoke to several people Wednesday that could have been the lucky winners.
"I didn't get one," said Dennis Cavanagh of Riverhead.
But hundreds of others who ride the Long Island Rail Road and Metro North did win. They unwittingly got free tickets to ride because of a ticket vending machine software glitch that went undetected for seven years.
"We believe that the computer software error was in the original installation of the machines going back to 2001," said LIRR spokesman Joe Calderone.
After discovering the glitch, the LIRR checked its records from 2004 on and discovered that 990 riders got free tickets totaling $74,000.
But that's not the least of it.
"There are three individuals who the MTA Police have arrested and charged with allegations related to this fraud," Calderone said.
Sources told CBS 2 HD that once the defendants discovered the glitch they started out small, a few hundred a month in free tickets. But by last April they were getting $70,000, better than a slot machine because it always paid out.
The total payouts was nearly $800,000 in LIRR tickets and MetroCards, many of which they then resold.
Two of the defendants live in a Roosevelt, Long Island home which has a number of pricey cars in the driveway. Only the father of Cary Grant, one of those charged, came to the door.
"I'm not worried about Cary because he's always been an honest person," Clarence Grant said.
The MTA said it has fixed the problem, but still, some riders remain very unhappy.
"I didn't get my free ticket and it's coming probably out of our pockets, the taxpayers' pockets," said Ed Dobbs of Mineola.
"That's a system failure on the MTA, give it to them for free, but don't charge the average taxpayer on it," added Angela Gonzales of Manhattan.
"Eventually I'll pay for it down the road, so it's not really free," said Sam Hassan of Summit, N.J.
"Somebody should have been on top of that," said Martin Kee of Wyandanch. "Are the riders paying for that?"
Officials said they plan to sue the software manufacturer for reimbursement.
The LIRR and Metro North also have a new auditing system in place, so they can catch other glitches if they do occur.
(© MMIX, CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved.)
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