Quote:Student Collects Fake Parking Fines

MADISON, Wis. - A fraternity member has been busted for apparently finding a unique way to supplement his college income — fake parking tickets.

Prosecutors said Anthony R. Gallagher, 23, allegedly earned hundreds of dollars by putting fake parking tickets on cars and having duped owners send him their payments.

Investigators became aware of the scam in March 2003 after a victim tried to mail in a payment for a ticket but had it returned as non-deliverable, a criminal complaint said.

Prosecutors said the tickets were the exact copy of a parking ticket Gallagher received in February of last year, even down to the citation number.

Investigators were able to trace the citation number to Gallagher, who admitted placing several of the tickets on vehicles parked near the Acacia fraternity, police said.

Prosecutors said Gallagher established a post office box to receive payments for the $40 tickets and had placed payments, amounting to hundreds of dollars, in a separate bank account.