New York – A straphanger in the Bronx claims that other riders’ discarded MetroCards are his own personal property.
CBS2′s Ann Mercogliano spoke with John Jones about how he is using the cards to make cash. Jones said that he regularly finds MetroCards with balances and that he has made a practice of re-selling them.
“Half of this stack was found in the past two days, over 100 cards and each card in this stack has a dollar or more on it,” he said Tuesday.
Jones is homeless and the cards provide him with a way to make some quick cash. He has made more than $20,000.
Many riders cast cards aside if they think that they have a zero balance, but the Metropolitan Transportation Authority recommends that riders refill their cards as their balances get low.
One rider couldn’t get a reading when he swiped his card the first time and was about to throw it away.
“I probably would have thrown it away and there would have been money in it…four-fifty,” said William Cedeno of Ozone Park.
The MTA would not comment on Jones’ money-making operation but did say that, “The sale of fare media is prohibited by anyone except for employees … or others who are given written permission. We encourage customers to refill their MetroCards to get maximum value.”
Jones said that he has been arrested several times for selling the cards, but that he doesn’t plan on stopping.
The MTA said that last year there was $52 million in leftover, unused MetroCards.
{CBS Broadcasting Inc./Matzav.com Newscenter}
way to go
try ebay
they profited 52,000,000 from unused Metrocards & still cry poverty
“The MTA said that last year there was $52 million in leftover, unused MetroCards”
The sale of fare media is prohibited by anyone except for employees or others who are given written permission ( MTA )
so, its ok if the MTA keep our money?!
It should be perfectly LEGAL to sell a limited ride Metrocard. REMEMBER TOKENS? It was perfectly legal to give someone your extra token to get into the Subway so why is it not Legal to provide someone with a Swipe from your limited ride Metrocard? It’s the exact same thing! If you purchased a 5 or 10 ride card why shouldn’t you be able to sell it to someone if you have extra rides left on the card? I can obviously see where Unlimited ride cards are a problem & it should be illegal BUT I can’t see why a limited ride card can’t be sold to someone or used by someone to get into the subway. The only unjustified reasons for this is so the MTA forces commuters to waste their extra ride which allows the MTA to unfairly & illegally make more money off commuters. The MTA & the illegal policies they enforce are what’s crooked NOT the thrifty Metrocard sellers who work hard to find & resell the unused rides. Let’s get REAL. If we had any Honest lawyers & judges with any integrity they’d easily prove that it should be perfectly legal to Sell your limited ride card that has extra rides on it, you paid for.