Bergen Street Subway Station View Full Caption

BOERUM HILL — A group of rush-hour commuters were ticketed Thursday morning after they said non-functioning turnstiles led them to illegally pass through an emergency exit, where police were waiting to issues them $100 summonses, one of the riders explained.

Rider Yvonne Hsi, 32, said the only two turnstiles used to access the platform at that end of the Bergen Street F/G train station's Warren Street entrance were not working Thursday morning.

The station was so crowded about 8:50 a.m. that the line to the turnstiles extended onto the entrance’s staircase, Hsi explained. A group of commuters then entered the platform through the emegency exit, but were busted by five police officers standing off to the side, she said.

The NYPD confirmed that nine to 10 people were written summonses by officers who were assigned to the station.

“We’re not criminals here,” Hsi said. “We’re trying to get to work.”

However, a police spokeswoman noted that a sergeant tested the two turnstiles after receiving complaints and found them to be working.

"We are working with the MTA to determine if there were any turnstile issues at the station," the spokeswoman said.

MTA spokesman Kevin Ortiz said three complaints were reported regarding the turnstiles on Thursday afternoon.

During a visit to the station at 12:30 p.m. Thursday, one of the turnstiles was working while two MTA workers examined the other.

The MTA did not specify if the second turnstile was operating properly, but Community Board 6 District Manager Craig Hammerman said authority officials told him they had been assessed on Thursday and appeared to be working.

Hsi, who has a monthly MetroCard, said police did not attempt to control the onrush of commuters or warn riders before they walked through the emergency exit door.

“They weren’t there to regulate it. They were only there to ticket,” she said. “They’re like predators.”

However, Hsi didn't attempt to justify commuters' actions.

“We’re not saying it’s right to jump the turnstile,” she said. “We’re trying to get to work.”