Truck Driver Uses Aluminum Foil to Wrap ETC Device and Illegally Avoid Tolls, Receiving a Sentence for Fraud
A truck driver, Shi, attempted to save on transportation costs by wrapping his ETC device in aluminum foil to block the signal and illegally avoid highway tolls, accumulating over 50,000 yuan in unpaid fees. From October 2023 to February 2025, Shi used aluminum foil to prevent the toll system from accurately recording his travel distance, paying only short-distance fees.
Within just 16 months, he committed the act of toll evasion 36 times, cumulatively stealing 51,288.84 yuan.
The highway management department discovered the vehicle’s frequent “long-distance travel, short-distance payment” anomalies through backend data comparison and immediately alerted the police. Shi was apprehended by police at a service area.
Upon being apprehended, Shi confessed to his criminal acts, initially believing he was simply taking advantage and unaware that he had committed a criminal offense.
After legal explanation by the judge, Shi proactively fully refunded the illegal gains, compensating the highway operating unit for its economic losses and obtaining a written letter of forgiveness. He also voluntarily signed a plea agreement with the Yuanyang County People's Court.
The court held that Shi, with the intention of illegal possession, used signal shielding and concealment of the actual travel distance to fraudulently obtain highway tolls, with a large amount involved, constituting the crime of fraud.
Considering his confession, guilty plea, full restitution, and first-time offense, the court made a first-instance judgment in accordance with the law, sentencing Shi to three years of imprisonment with a five-year suspended sentence and a fine of 50,000 yuan.