Gov. Kathy Hochul and Mayor Eric Adams announced on Tuesday the latest effort to crack down on drivers evading tolls with ghost cars — vehicles with bogus paper license plates.
Joining Police Commissioner Edward Caban, New York City Sheriff Anthony Miranda and MTA Chair and CEO Janno Lieber on the RFK Bridge, Hochul and Adams said task force members will be dispatched to bridges and tunnels around the five boroughs to screen vehicles operating with paper license plates. “This is something we have focused on over and over again. Ghost vehicles, ghost cars, ghost bikes. They are not only a menace to our roadways, we are finding they are participating in very violent and dangerous crimes,” Adams said.Top Cop Caban charged that these operations are not just merely about preventing the evasion of tolls but also about catching criminals who use paper plates to evade serious criminal activity such as hit-and-runs.
“By launching this city-state task force, we are sending a clear message: if you attempt to alter your license plate to avoid traffic cameras and toll readers, you will be caught,” Hochul said. “The safety of New Yorkers is my top priority and in partnership with Mayor Adams and law enforcement, we will swiftly remove elusive vehicles from our roads. Now, I’m calling on the Legislature to join our efforts and work with us to pass additional protections for New Yorkers in the final budget.