Stolen bus fares by two Ocean City Maryland department of transportation drivers.

 August 12, 2004
Reminiscent of the 90's when Darrel Rose purloined from the city's coffers hundreds of thousands of dollars, two Ocean City Maryland bus drivers set out to double dip the ticket-coupons the town uses for their discount bus fares booklet.

A many month sting operation, over three seasons, nabbed the suspects.   Using under cover bus patrons, often posing as intoxicated individuals, the suspects were observed pocketing fares and bilking customers out of change.    Using counterfeit discount coupons, replacing the cash with the counterfeits,  the bus drivers were able to steal on average one hundred dollars a night.

Particularly attractive to the scheme was the increase in fares from $1 to $2 this year.

On another town bus related note, an other town bus driver pleaded guilty in June, for selling crack cocaine from his bus as he made his route through the town .