Maine trucker busted for dodging tolls

Danny Olson’s truck was also impounded for safety issues. (Maine State Police photo)

A Maine truck driver was arrested Thursday, May 17, for having illegally avoided paying some $1,300 in tolls over a six-year period. He was also charged with numerous other violations and had his truck impounded for two safety violations, according to the Maine State Police.

The police says Danny Olson, 61, of Turner, Maine, avoided the tolls on the Maine Turnpike by illegally attaching license plates not belonging to him, his truck or trailer. In a lengthy post on Instagram, the MSP also said Olson is “suspected of accumulating thousands more in unpaid tolls other northeast states.”

Olson, an owner-operator doing business as K&E Transport of West Newfield, Maine, was charged with theft of services, having a false log book as he had not taken a proper rest in five days, failing to retain his previous log books, illegal attachment of registration plates, unauthorized taking of registration plates, and failing or neglecting to pay tolls, according to police.

Olson’s bail was set at $2500 cash and he was released from the jail.

In April 2018 the Commercial Vehicle Unit was tasked with identifying a subject who over the previous 6 or more years had been travelling on the Maine Turnpike between Augusta and Kittery without paying tolls in a tractor trailer truck. The suspect was avoiding the tolls by illegally attaching license plates not belonging to him, his truck or trailer and had racked up over $1300 in unpaid tolls in Maine and was also suspected of accumulating thousands more in unpaid tolls other northeast states. One of the license plates belonged to a subject who was deceased and another belonged to a local subject who was not involved in the thefts. Over the course of the previous month Cpl. Rogers and Tr. Degroot were able to identify a suspect in the thefts as Danny Olson (61) of Turner, owner of Olson Transportation and a long haul truck driver. On the afternoon of May 17th Cpl. Rogers, Tr. Degroot, and Sgt. Bergquist intercepted Olson shortly after he entered Maine from New Hampshire. Olson was found to be in possession of the illegal registration plates at the time of the traffic stop. Olson was found to be an owner operator driving for K&E Transport of West Newfield, ME. Olson was transported to the Androscoggin County Jail and charged with theft of services (Class C felony), along with the Class E crimes of false log book as he had not taken a proper rest in 5 days, failing to retain his previous log books, illegal attachment of registration plates, unauthorized taking of registration plates, and failing or neglecting to pay tolls. Olson’s truck was also placed out of service and towed due to two imminent safety violations. Olson’s bail was set at $2500 cash and he was released from the jail overnight. Other states will now be contacted regarding the thefts in their states and Federal prosecution will be considered. Troopers from Troop G also assisted in the investigation. #MaineStatePolice #CommercialVehicleUnit

A post shared by Maine State Police (@mainestatepolice) on May 18, 2018 at 3:30am PDT