County Detective, Prosecutor Will Crack Down Turnpike Toll Scofflaws

Pennsylvania Turnpike scofflaws be warned.

As part of the Turnpike’s efforts to crack down on drivers who are avoiding paying tolls, the agency that oversees more than 500 miles of highway in Pennsylvania has granted the Bucks County District Attorney’s Office $327,705.07 to investigate and prosecute fare evaders who rack up high bills between this year and the end of 2022.

The unit will cover the Turnpike in Bucks and Montgomery counties with buy-in from the Montgomery County District Attorney.

Last week, the Bucks County Detectives, which is overseen by the district attorney’s office, hired Phil Kulan as their newest investigator. He will be assigned to the unit that covers the Turnpike scofflaws and an assistant district attorney that will be assigned to the cases.

Kulan worked in Tullytown Borough for the past decade and worked his way up to a patrol sergeant. He has helped lead some of the department’s larger investigations, including a recently one into a priest accused of molestation of altar boys.

In 2018, the Pennsylvania Turnpike Commission said there were 10,000 toll dodgers who owed more than $17 million in unpaid tolls.

Officials have previously said the the enforcement effort is not designed to hit drivers with lower toll bills, but target owners of vehicles who have piled up tolls and fees that exceed $2,000.

Prosecutors have stated in the past that thefts worth more than $2,000 are felonies of the third degree.

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