LACEYVILLE, PA -- Hundreds of people in one Wyoming County community have pled guilty to parking in a handicapped spot, in a town with only two handicapped spaces.
State investigators say it was all part of a money-making scheme by the police department in Laceyville.
Drivers that were caught speeding were given the chance to avoid the moving violation if they pled guilty to the parking violation.
A recent audit shows town officials collected 1,025 fines for illegal parking over a five year period.
State Auditor General Eugene DePasquale said that because municipalities get all the money from a parking fine, but only half from speeding tickets, the state was cheated out of 43,000 dollars from the plea deals.
DePasquale recommends Laceyville work out a deal with the State Department of Revene to pay back the money over a period of time.
The audit results have been sent to the U.S. Attorney's office and the State Police to decide if a criminal investigation is needed.