Agents Have Seized 1,540 Vehicles, Issued 12,007 Citations and Made 339 Arrests in 25 Operations

Interagency Operations During June and July Conducted at the Queens Midtown Tunnel, Williamsburg Bridge, RFK Bridge and Bronx Whitestone Bridge

Governor Kathy Hochul today announced that through 25 joint operations targeting ghost license plates and persistent toll violators on bridges and tunnels throughout New York City, MTA Bridge and Tunnel Officers, Police New York and local law enforcement partners have seized 1,540 vehicles and made 339 arrests and issued 12,007 citations. These drivers owe more than $12.5 million in unpaid tolls and fees.

“Ghost license plates and toll evasion cost our state millions each year and impede our efforts to build a mass transportation system that benefits everyone,” said Governor Hochul. “Our stepped-up law enforcement efforts are cracking down on brazen lawlessness that has gone unchecked for too long, and our message is simple: enough is enough.”

On Monday, July 8, law enforcement officers confiscated 55 vehicles from motorists crossing the Whitestone Bridge in the Bronx. The violators had racked up more than $480,000 in tolls, fees and unpaid judgments. The operations resulted in 13 arrests and 433 summonses.

On Tuesday, July 2, law enforcement officers confiscated 67 vehicles from motorists crossing the Verrazzano-Narrows Bridge. The violators had accumulated approximately $537,429 in tolls, fees and unpaid judgments. The operations resulted in 7 arrests and 527 summonses.

On Monday, June 24, law enforcement officers seized a total of 79 vehicles from motorists crossing the Queens Midtown Tunnel, Williamsburg Bridge, Lincoln Tunnel, Holland Tunnel, Goethals Bridge, Bayonne Bridge, and Outerbridge Crossing. The violators had racked up more than $128,000 in tolls, fees and unpaid judgments. The operations resulted in 25 arrests and 686 summonses.

The vehicles seized during this operation involved a number of violations, including unpaid tolls, falsified documents, unregistered vehicles and suspended licenses. The interagency operation included MTA Bridge and Tunnel Officers, MTA Police, NYPD, New York State Police, New York City Sheriff's Office, Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV), the New York City Taxi and Limousine Commission (TLC) police, and the Port Authority Police Department (PAPD).

Major Arrests

During an operation on June 24, MTA Bridge and Tunnel Officers conducted a traffic stop on the RFK Bridge at Randall's Island. Officers observed that the driver intentionally obstructed and obscured the last character of his license plate. A subsequent investigation revealed that the driver had a suspended license, was wanted for several crimes, and officers found a large amount of narcotics and a loaded firearm in the vehicle.

Port Authority Police arrested three people during the 23rd interagency law enforcement operation in the Lincoln and Holland tunnels. An arrest was made in the Lincoln Tunnel after it was revealed the driver had an outstanding traffic warrant. Two Holland Tunnel drivers were arrested for tampering with public records and theft of service.

During an operation at the Queens Midtown Tunnel and Williamsburg Bridges, NYPD officers stopped a moped operator for a traffic law violation. An initial investigation revealed that the driver had a suspended license and upon further inspection, officers discovered that the moped driver also had a substantial amount of crack cocaine. During a background check, officers discovered that the individual is a Person of Interest regarding a shooting in Brooklyn in 2022.

During the 12th interagency law enforcement operation on the Whitestone Bridge in the Bronx, the New York City Sheriff detained four people who fled after causing a collision. All four are known to the NYPD, and two of the individuals are co-defendants in a pattern of grand theft involving stolen credit cards.

These arrests provide another extraordinary example of how interagency law enforcement operations are not only focused on improving traffic safety but also on improving overall public safety.

MTA Chairman and CEO Janno Lieber said, “Drivers who evade tolls cost the MTA millions of dollars each year. That's the public's money, money that could be reinvested in modernizing our transportation system. It's about justice. Be careful: if you cover up your license plate or use fake plates, you will pay the price.”

Department of Motor Vehicles Commissioner and Governor's Highway Safety Committee Chairman Mark JF Schroeder said, “Governor Hochul is making keeping our streets safe a priority, so the DMV is pleased to participate with our enforcement colleagues. of law enforcement to identify 'ghost plates' and remove them from the roads. Every person who tries to get away with not paying tolls by using a false or hidden license plate is placing an unfair burden on those who obey the law and pay tolls. “People who commit crimes often use hidden or false license plates, so removing them so that vehicle owners are identifiable and held accountable is a top priority.”

New York State Police Superintendent Steven G. James said: “The use of fake, stolen and obscured license plates by individuals to avoid detection while trafficking illegal drugs, weapons and other contraband remains a problem. serious, which endangers the safety of all New Yorkers. “We do not tolerate this type of activity and will continue to work closely with our partners, using the latest technology, to catch people in the act and hold them fully accountable.”

MTA Bridges and Tunnels Chairwoman Catherine Sheridan said, “Our bridges and tunnels officers have worked closely with regional authorities to recover millions of dollars and remove ghost license plates from roadways. “These criminals are stealing money from the public’s pockets when they illegally use our bridges and tunnels, and law enforcement efforts help ensure everyone pays their fair share.”

NYPD Commissioner Edward A. Caban said: “New Yorkers are fed up with drivers who think the laws don't apply to them, and now, after 25 (and counting) interagency operations targeting drivers motorists who blatantly violate the literal rules of the road, we must be clear that we are also fed up. Since our joint task force operations began four months ago, we have fined or arrested more than 12,000 violators and impounded more than 1,500 vehicles that owe millions of dollars in tolls, fees and unpaid judgments. While there is still a clear connection between some illegal vehicles and violence and disorder in New York City, overall crime this year is down 2 percent, including a 10 percent drop in stolen vehicles. This ongoing effort led by the NYPD to hold motorists accountable and seize illegal and unregistered vehicles is the latest example of an effective multi-agency partnership that is making our city better and safer for everyone. And we will not take our foot off the gas until all drivers understand that lawlessness is simply not tolerated here.”

Port Authority Police Superintendent Edward Cetnar said, “Drivers looking to cheat out of paying what they owe on our roads have proven to be no match for the unified force of law enforcement in our region. “This powerful association has sent a clear message to those who believe they can deceive us with ghost cars, defaced license plates and delinquent bills: we are vigilant, we are prepared and, like thousands before you, we will hold you accountable for breaking the law.”

MTA Bridge and Tunnel Revenue Recovery Efforts

Motorists can avoid violation fees, exclusion orders and registration suspensions by paying their toll bills on time, and can use the free, award-winning Tolls NY mobile app to pay tolls or manage their E-ZPass accounts. Drivers can also request assistance from the MTA Office of the Toll Payer Advocate, an independent office within the MTA committed to balancing toll payer assistance and collection efforts. . E-ZPass NY Customer Service Center account holders can save at least 25 percent on MTA B&T tolled crossings using E-ZPass. To set up an E-ZPass account or for more information, visit www.ezpassny.com . New York State Vehicle and Traffic Law prohibits any covering or covering that intentionally conceals, obscures, or distorts the image of the license plate.