Ohio Auditor Betty Montgomery has asked the Ohio Ethics Commission to investigate allegations that employees or board members of the Greater Dayton Regional Transit Authority broke the law by accumulating or using frequent flyer miles for personal use, the Dayton (Ohio) Daily News has reported.

“Our audit has revealed what appears to be a violation of ethics law,” Montgomery said.

Ohio ethics law forbids government officials or employees from accepting or using for personal travel any frequent flyer miles accumulated while traveling on government business — joining an international trend that has yet to take firm root in the U.S.

Montgomery authorized the review after the Dayton Daily News reported that Executive Director Minnie Fells Johnson and some board members accepted frequent flyer miles while traveling on RTA business. Johnson accumulated thousands of miles during 54 out-of-state business trips between 1998 and March 2003, the Daily News found.

Violating the law is a misdemeanor offense that can result in a $1,000 fine and six months in jail.