MetroCard Machines Too Old for New Counterfeit Bills

djwerdna's Flickr

Time to start setting aside some of those counterfeit bills we ordinarily unload at the peep shows and save them for the subway! The MTA is reportedly "in a mad dash" to update more than 1,600 MetroCard machines throughout the city because they soon won't be high-tech enough to spot the newest generations of rubber money. A new MTA report warns that without an upgrade, the machines "have the potential of accepting up to $60 million in counterfeit bills annually." And then once the machines become self-aware, who knows what they'll accept as payment? The MTA board will vote soon on a plan to fix obsolete machines electronically, which is expected to cost $3.3 million dollars. The Post reports that physically replacing the slots would cost more than three times as much. And a spokesman for NYC Transit tells us the upgrade isn't just about anti-counterfeiting measures, but also intended to accomodate new bill designs issued by the federal government.

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By John Del Signore in News on June 19, 2009 2:28 PM

Comments [rss]

NannyState

Now I know how Peter Kalikow rode the subway so often.

Reflect

Hey hey.. self aware machine, im all out of cash and I really really need to get uptown. Its very important. Will you accept a oil job?

BigNick

Yes and it's called a joke.

firewire

when you realize that the self-aware machines will accept demand "human life" as payment, then i don't think you'll be laughing.

robots murder. prepare yourself.

TrippinJoJo

robots are created by man.

it's not murder. it's suicide.

think about it.

got it.

good.

have a pleasant weekend.

love it.

TrippinJoJo

Thank you Captain Obvious. I was joking as well.

jaycjay

It's a good idea to leave a clue that something written online is a joke, because it's hard sometimes to tell when reading. Some people use "emoticons" to do that, but I suggest instead just writing something funny.

TrippinJoJo

"And then once the machines become self-aware, who knows what they'll accept as payment?"

Self aware? Really?

Is this Terminator the lost years or something?

r1b2

How soon until $3.3MM of repairs needs to be performed again? The crooks are smart, they'll outwit any changes the dumbass MTA can implement.

r1b2

How soon until $3.3MM of repairs needs to be performed again? The crooks are smart, they'll outwit any changes the dumbass MTA can implement.

keepdiscoevil

If you live in the outer burroughs you have roughly 6-8 months to continue using counterfeit money.

yincrash

What exactly costs $3.3 million to update the software on the machines?

yincrash

What exactly costs $3.3 million to update the software on the machines?

longacre

The article isn't very clear, but it sounds like they're physically changing the circuitry of the machines.

Outter Burrougher

am I really to believe that the MTA expects to get passed more than 164k per day in counterfeit moneys? What is this estimate based on?

longacre

I was wondering that myself. The "potential" would really be in the billions...if the machines can't detect fakes, everyone could potentially use counterfeit bills.

jaycjay

It wouldn't mean they'd suddenly start accepting all counterfeit bills. They're updates based on the Treasury Department's information about new counterfeiting approaches. Kind of like a subscription for your anti-virus program; if you don't regularly update you become vulnerable to new viruses, but are still protected against old ones.