When the Augusta Transit bus pulled out of the parking lot at Deans Bridge Road and Gordon Highway midmorning Thursday, nine passengers were aboard, but only four paid for the ride. The rest flashed hotel key cards before taking their seats.
And before the day was over 57 people had gotten free rides using the cards on the Lumpkin Road bus. Six of them were headed for a place on U.S. Highway 25 that buys blood plasma, according to Charles Goff, who drives that bus route.
Mr. Goff, who has been driving a bus for Augusta Transit for nine years, blew the whistle on a scam that has turned a perk for Augusta hotel guests into more financial losses for the transit system, which already costs taxpayers more than $4 million a year.
Mr. Goff also said his bus is one of 11 in Augusta, and all 11 have fare boxes that malfunction in some way. Drivers don't report the problems to supervisors because there are no parts to repair them.
Calls to Transit Director Heyward Johnson seeking comment Thursday were not returned.
As part of a $1 room tax that went into effect in March, hotel and motel owners received a concession that allows guests to ride city buses free by producing a hotel key card, but the cards have been stolen from hotels and given away or sold. On Thursday, City Administrator Fred Russell said signs will be posted on all buses notifying passengers that invalid key cards will not be accepted and spot checks will be conducted to check the validity of cards.
"We will be looking at a mechanism to verify hotel stays that is not overly burdensome for the visitor but would help eliminate potential fraud," Mr. Russell said.
Mr. Russell and Mr. Johnson have known about the key card problem for a while and had a survey done that showed 8,000 rides using the cards in one month. Mr. Johnson said earlier this week that he did not remember in which month the survey was done.
Mr. Goff, however, said surveys were done in May and June.
Mr. Goff informed Commissioners Don Grantham, Jerry Brigham and Joe Bowles of the widespread abuse at the end of July. Several other commissioners said they hadn't heard about the problem, but they agreed it should end.
"We most definitely need to cut it out," Commissioner Calvin Holland said.
"All this has been going on, and they haven't told us a thing about it?" Commissioner J.R. Hatney asked incredulously. "We've got to put a stop to it. Reprogram it, expeditiously. We can't have folks riding free."
Mayor Pro Tem Betty Beard said that when the key-card proposal was before commissioners they didn't think there would be a problem.
"We may have to get with the hotels to come up with a workable plan," she said.
Reach Sylvia Cooper at (706) 823-3228 or sylvia.cooper@augustachronicle.com.
Comments
thank th lord for men like mr. goff f someone from every department in the city would come forth and expose the wrong doing in their department the city would save millions each year. the whoe city goverment in nothing but give away this and that. this whole thing with the htel cards is a pay back to one commissioner who is greedy and hard headed in their quest for as they put it intercity development. everyone knows who this is and hey along with russell must go
Man, I'm glad I live in South Carolina.
Let everyone ride for free. However, it you really want to do this free riding for only hotel guests, let the guests pay and then present the bus ticket to the hotel clerk when checking out for reimbursement. End of problem. I'll also bet not one hotel guest has actually ever ridden the bus.
Why the hell should hotel guests be able to ride free? Where else does this perk exist? It's plain stupid.
55% knowingly stealing from the city on the first bus load mentioned. And proud of it more than likely. I haven't seen too many hotel guests who needed a free bus pass. Just another bad idea.
Well maybe they can institute a "study" into the mix to understand the whys and wherefores of this freeloading...:-)
No, they need to institute a study to find out why the city government is so screwed up.
Like I said, I'm glad I live in South Carolina. House up the street from me for sale in the Sweetwater Area. Near Old McDonald's Fish Camp, if anyone is interested in escaping the insanity. lol
Just say "no more free rides for hotel guest" end of story....but NO the city wants to cook up another idiot plan of trying to see if the card is valid, which will cost more money for equipment to check the cards - and how long do you think that equipment will last before it is broken or stolen? What a bunch of idiots. Spot checks? Give me a break!! Mr. Mayor - step up to the plate and do something.
You people in Augusta are to stupid to realize whats important, and whats not. Scroll up to the kid whos fighting for his life, no comments of get well or nothing, look here and Bam. Iam glad to be in Atlanta.
We are glad you live in Carolina too. We know that there are no illegal activities going on in South Carolina, like illegal video poker or the such. Yep, good old Utopia.
I know that Ohio had bus cards that are connected to the debit or credit cards and reduced the cost of bus fare, but it was monthly increments. This way, you could not rip off the system.
A good temporary solution to the problem would be to limit the key card pass to the golf tournament weeks when automobile traffic is at it's highest. Seems logical to me.
What someone is ripping the city off by riding the bus for free? What we didn't imagine someone would abuse the system?What were we all born yesterday? Give me a break.
"Mr. Russell and Mr. Johnson have known about the key card problem for a while" and "We may have to get with the hotels to come up with a workable plan" says Betty Beard. Another good example of the incompetence and indifference of the A-RC government.
I just hope that Mr. Goff will not be persecuted for exposing this problem in the Augusta Transit Department.
So, the boxes are broken, so what, Augusta is too!!
A ride to sell blood plasma. You know they can't afford a motel room or they live in one of the flop house motels.
Justus, most people like the police cars parked in the driveways. It deters crime and make for a fast response by the officers in the case of emergencys. I think the government would do better to cut out the welfare, child support, food stamp, disability and all other types of fraud and make the receivers work at some type of job to get that help. We would have a very clean city if they did. What is wrong with working for what you get. Especially if it is taxpayer money. The severly handicapped and disable are of course exempt.
No free rides for hotel guests. That is ridiculous!
Here is a recommendation. Randomly assign a plain clothed deputy to the bus routes. When someone uses the card, have them produce additional credentials to prove the validity of the card. If they can't, arrest them and charge them with theft of services. After doing this for a few days/weeks, the problem would be greatly curtailed.
Is this groudhog day?....I thought I just read this
Will the City pay me $4,000,000.00 to run 11 busses, I'd be glad too, U do the math
Using a hotel key card when you haven't paid for the hotel room is illegal... it's called theft of services...doesn't the bus driver have a radio to call dispatch to call the A.R.C. police... or is it because the drivers DO KNOW who is using the card illegaly but just don't care because it's mostly older and younger people?
no.no.no: Seems like it would be cheaper to contract out the service.
keraknightwalker: If they have radios they are most probably broken, just like the fare boxes.
hahaha barstool
Every TAX PAYING citizen of Augusta should be outraged ! This city is broken by ineptness from the top all the way down...Mr. Mayor this situation is not acceptable...stand up and speak and then put a stop to it...can you do that??? You are more than a token figure head... giving pretty little feel good speeches is a crock.......actually do something productive and put an immediate end to this scam to steal from the tax payers.
Not all the radio's can be broken....8,000 free rides?..it's obvious why this is happening...
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