New York Governor Kathy Hochul is marking the one-year anniversary of the creation of a sizable task force aimed at tackling the issue of "ghost cars" on the city's roads. Backed by concerted efforts from state and local law enforcement, including the NYPD, MTA, and several other agencies, Hochul shared their progress in a campaign that has led to 902 arrests and over 39,000 summonses, according to a statement by the Governor's office.
The task force, formed to root out vehicles with fraudulent or concealed plates which often escape traffic cameras and toll readers, since its inception, has reeled in thousands of offenders who attempt to dodge tolls and avoid identification. New York City Mayor Eric Adams stated, “For too long, ghost cars and illegal mopeds and scooters have contributed to the feeling of disorder in New York City — but those days are in the past. We said we were not going to stand by while people break the law, defraud our city and endanger the public, and that message has been clearly delivered. Since its inception one year ago, our interagency task force between the City and State has removed more than 4,000 vehicles, wrote nearly 40,000 summonses and arrested more than 900 people — and we will not rest until New York City is a safer, more affordable city for everyone. I want to thank Governor Hochul, the NYPD, the New York City Sheriff’s Office, and all our other partners for their contributions to improving the safety and quality of life for all New Yorkers,” he asserted, as noted by the Governor's office.
The efforts of the task force continued to ramp up with Nassau County and Westchester County joining the alliance enhancing the crackdown, with the past year seeing a significant quantity of interdicted vehicles, including 4,073 due to issues like suspended registrations and altered plates as the Governor's office reported. The collective effort has been pivotal in recovering approximately $50.3 million in unpaid tolls and related fees since the start of the campaign in 2024.
Adding to this, Governor Hochul has fortified the legal framework supporting these efforts, with the FY 2025 final Budget seeing an enhancement in penalties for driving with altered plates, the prohibition on the sale or distribution of plate-obscuring devices, and tightened regulations around DMV registration transactions. MTA Bridges and Tunnels reduced violation fees to encourage payment and ensure equitable enforcement as aligned with their efforts, as per official statements.
The initiative includes the employment of innovative technology like drones and mobile License Plate Reader trailers that aid in detecting and prosecuting persistent toll violators by feeding real-time data to law enforcement. These methods have amplified the effectiveness of the task force, paving the way for more advanced, data-driven enforcement strategies. Motorists are reminded to pay tolls through official channels and to avoid potential scams that do not solicit payment via authentic bills or legitimate online platforms.
