The Pennsylvania Turnpike Commission has an important task prior to implementing its already approved toll increase on Aug. 1. It must significantly curb cheating that one published report estimates could be depriving the toll road of at least $700,000 annually.

The news that the turnpike might be losing that much money - and possibly much more - can't be welcomed by the toll road's users, who have been told how important the higher tolls approved in January will be to the highway's long-term well-being. Many of the highway's honest users might be wondering why, if so much more additional money is needed, the commission hasn't already taken significant steps to minimize the cheating.

That's a legitimate question.

Based on the commission's January action, the average car rate will jump to 5.9 cents a mile from 4.1 cents, and the average truck rate will increase to 17.7 cents a mile from 12.4 cents.

While the tolls lost to cheating might not be regarded as excessive when stacked against overall toll collections for a 12-month period, it is nonetheless troubling that many people are getting a free ride while others are incurring the financial price that their honesty entails.

The commission hasn't enhanced its image in concealing the fact that, despite posting signs warning motorists about the existence of video surveillance at certain toll locations, no cameras or license detection equipment are present at those sites.

Now that the information has reached the public as part of a Pittsburgh newspaper's investigation into the toll-cheating issue, it is possible that the rate of cheating could increase - unless, of course, the commission follows through with plans to wage a fight against the toll dodging.

The commission won't say how it intends to do that, but one method might be periodic stings geared toward catching cheaters. In two hours in New Hampshire, a sting caught 10 violators who were fined a total of $1,170, according to the newspaper's research.

Except for two barriers on the Beaver Valley Expressway and one on the Greensburg Bypass that are equipped with gate arms and staffed by a toll collector, those two limited-access roadways, as well as the entire Mon-Fayette Expressway, are operated on the honor system.

Of the three toll roadways, Beaver Valley has the highest rate of cheating - about 13 percent - due at least in part to the unavailability of equipment for credit card or paper currency use. That is the problem dogging a higher rate of collection at Greensburg.

Mon-Fayette accepts $1 bills, $5 bills and major credit cards.

Joseph G. Brimmeier, turnpike chief executive officer, said at the time of the commission's January decision that "not one penny of the increase will go toward new administration costs or increased bureaucracy." That's not much consolation for motorists who, besides being hit by higher tolls, are paying high fuel prices and for free rides for others.

The turnpike should face the free-rides issue expeditiously and in a cost-effective way. It is wrong for not already having done so.