On July 9th, Governor Hochu of New York, along with the Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) and the New York City Police Department (NYPD), announced the seizure of vehicles with “ghost plates” illegally affixed to them on various bridges last year.
“Ghost plates” refer to license plates intentionally obscured, blurred, or covered with objects or coatings.
The Governor stated that through 25 joint enforcement efforts last year, a crackdown was conducted on illegal plates and drivers who repeatedly evaded toll payments on New York City bridges. A total of 1,540 vehicles were seized, 339 individuals were arrested, and over 12,000 summonses were issued. These vehicles with obscured plates, aiming to avoid toll payments, collectively owed $12.5 million in bridge tolls.
“Ghost plates and toll evasion cost our state millions of dollars annually, impeding our efforts to establish a public transit system that benefits everyone,” Hochu said in a statement. “We are ramping up enforcement efforts to combat this brazen and unchecked illegal behavior. Our message is clear: enough is enough.”
During the months of June and July, MTA, NYPD, and bridge authorities carried out joint operations at the Queens-Midtown Tunnel, Williamsburg Bridge, RFK Bridge, and Bronx-Whitestone Bridge.
The seized vehicles in these operations were involved in various illegal activities, including unpaid traffic tolls, forged documents, unregistered vehicles, and driving without a license. Enforcement personnel involved in the operation included MTA Bridge and Tunnel Authority officials, MTA Police, NYPD, New York State Police, New York City Sheriff’s Office, New York State Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV), NYC Taxi and Limousine Commission (TLC), and Port Authority Police (PAPD).
During an operation on June 24th at the RFK Bridge on Randall’s Island, law enforcement officials conducted a traffic stop. They found a driver intentionally covering and hiding the last character of the license plate. Subsequent investigation revealed that the driver’s license had been revoked and they were wanted for multiple crimes. Police discovered a large quantity of drugs and a loaded gun inside the vehicle.
The Port Authority also arrested a driver with an outstanding traffic arrest warrant during the enforcement operation. In an operation at the Queens-Midtown Tunnel and Williamsburg Bridge, NYPD officials identified a suspect in a 2022 Brooklyn shooting case. During an enforcement action on the Bronx-Whitestone Bridge, authorities encountered co-defendants involved in a major credit card theft case.
These arrest operations demonstrate that cross-department enforcement efforts not only enhance traffic safety but also overall public security.
MTA encourages New York drivers to pay tolls using the free Tolls NY app or manage their own E-ZPass accounts. For setting up an E-ZPass account or more information, please visit www.ezpassny.com.