T warns of fare evasion crackdown

BOSTON. Not so fast.

That was the message yesterday from MBTA officials to would-be fare evaders.

Ever since the MBTA installed a multi-million dollar CharlieCard system, they’ve been monitoring the fare gates via video surveillance to make sure their investment is protected and fare evaders are caught red-handed.

Yesterday, the T released video of two people captured on camera trying to skirt the system.

The first suspect smashed a gate at Courthouse Station in South Boston Tuesday night by slamming it twice with his foot. The camera caught him stumbling down the stairs after the destructive episode, and a watchful rider tipped off police to what she saw. Twelve minutes later, Transit Police intercepted him as he was stepping off the train at South Station.

The suspect, Derek James Fritts, 25,  of Somerville, was arraigned yesterday on charges of malicious destruction of property, and T officials are looking to collect for the damaged goods.

“Instead of paying $1.70 to ride the T, he ended up causing almost $1,300 in damage,” MBTA General Manager Daniel Grabauskas said. “It’s not jumping your father’s old-fashioned turnstile anymore.”

The second suspect, caught on camera at Science Park station yesterday morning, tried to squeeze his hefty body through the glass gates. When he didn’t budge, he ripped off one of the gates instead. His damage will set the T back almost $2,000, Grabauskas said. The suspect hasn’t been arrested by Transit Police yet, but the video captured a clear picture of his face and officials are asking for the public’s help.

“We will continue to have a battle with people who go to extremes to bust through gates instead of paying the fare,” Grabauskas said. “But this shows how successful we’ve been identifying them.”

Cameras now monitor every gate in the system and, so far this year, T officials have issued 489 citations to fare evaders.