July 22, 2010
The Delaware River Port Authority, or DRPA's, punishment of its chief public safety officer, who gave his daughter access to a publicly-funded E-ZPass transponder, does not go far enough to assure toll payers that abuse of public funds will not be tolerated at the bi-state agency, Assemblyman Domenick DiCicco said today.
"A three-day fine and restitution that totals little more than $2,500 for abusing public dollars is an insult to drivers who duly pay $4 every time they cross the Delaware River," DiCicco, R-Gloucester and Camden, said. "This episode was not a momentary lapse in judgment. It occurred for 18 months, draining resources from people who rightfully pay their tolls."
According to The Philadelphia Inquirer, the DRPA fined its top safety officer Michael Joyce, three day's pay (about $2,000), plus an additional $600, which represented the maximum amount of tolls his daughter could have racked up. Joyce gave her an E-ZPass transponder given to authority employees that has 100 free bridge crossings per year. She had the device from late 2008 until this year.
"This slap-on-the-wrist for an egregious abuse of public office is why people are so fed up with government," DiCicco said. "If someone in the private sector had improperly used a company account, a small fine would not suffice. But when you're politically-connected, you get to walk away after paying a small fine and promising not to do it again.
"Law-abiding residents deserve more accountability," DiCicco added.
