The scheme involves using fabricated or expired license plates to avoid paying tolls, police say.
FORT LEE -- Authorities have arrested a South Carolina trucker who they say was caught carrying out a scheme meant to avoid paying tolls.
Marcus Antonio Wright, 34, of Sumter, S.C., was arrested Thursday morning after he was pulled over while driving through a George Washington Bridge toll, Port Authority Police announced Friday.
Wright's blue 2006 Kenworth tractor trailer had driven through an EZ Pass only lane, but did not have an EZ pass transponder, police said. Nearby officers noticed the truck did not have a front license plate, and pulled it over, police said.
Wright gave police a South Carolina license plate that was found to be a fabricated version of a plate that had been suspended in the state of Maine in February.
"It's basically a scam to avoid paying the tolls," PAPD spokesman Joseph Pentangelo said.
Wright was arrested on theft of service, toll evasion, and other traffic charges, police said. He was released pending a June court date in Fort Lee municipal court, authorities said.
The truck, a refrigerated trailer hauling cucumbers, was impounded, they said.
The arrest came two days after other truckers allegedly pulling the same stunt were found to have dodged about $6,000 in tolls. It is unclear how many toll payments Wright may owe, Pentangelo said.
Jessica Mazzola may be reached at jmazzola@njadvancemedia.com. Follow her on Twitter @JessMazzola. Find NJ.com on Facebook.