Florida man facing felony for using remote-controlled device to avoid $1.25 toll

ORLANDO, Fla., Jan. 13 (UPI) -- The Florida Highway Patrol said a man is facing felony charges for using a remote-controlled device to hide his license plate and avoid paying a $1.25 toll.

The FHP said a trooper spotted Joshua Concepcion West, 27, of Apopka using the mechanism to lower a shield that covers his license plate Wednesday while approaching the Conway toll plaza on Toll Road 408 Expressway in Orlando.

"These devices are specifically designed to obscure your tag," FHP Sgt. Kim Montes told WFTV.

Montes told WESH-TV the method of toll-evasion is "kind of James Bond-like, where this device is activated remotely."

She said a trooper saw the shield both lower and rise.

"After he cleared the toll booth, the tag came back up. The tag was exposed again," Montes said.

West was arrested on felony charges of petit theft and cheating, or gross fraud.

"Now he is charged with a felony, for failure to pay a $1.25 toll," Montes said.

"It's not worth having a felony charge on your record for failure to pay a toll. Don't use the road if you can't afford it," she said.

Montes said police are aware of several different types of gadgets available online that are designed to hide license plates from toll enforcement and other cameras. She said they generally retail for $50-$200.

"It's not worth it. Pay the toll or don't use the road," Montes said.