Photo Courtesy of Ed Reed/Mayoral Photography Office
“Many of these temporary plates, particularly the ones that appear to be issued by states other than New York, are fake. They’re fraudulent,” NYPD Chief Royster said.
By Michael V. Cusenza
City officials on Tuesday announced that the NYPD, City Sheriff, and Department of Transportation are cracking down on vehicles with illegal license plates.
“Anyone can look around outside right now and see the proliferation of paper license plates affixed to vehicles that have been driving and parking on New York City streets,” said NYPD Transportation Bureau Chief Kim Royster. “Many of these temporary plates, particularly the ones that appear to be issued by states other than New York, are fake. They’re fraudulent. And the drivers of the vehicles they’re attached to are fully aware that they are breaking the law and possession and using them.”
Royster noted that in recent months the NYPD has been holding illegal license plate strategy meetings with agency partners the MTA, Port Authority, Triborough Bridge and Tunnel, the DOT, the Sheriff’s Office, State Troopers, as well as district attorneys.
“This Vehicle License Plate Working Group, as we call it, is determined to end the far-ranging public safety hazards that threaten everyone that lives in, works in, or visits New York City, including the police officers who are sworn to protect them. This is our warning to all. This ends today,” Royster said. “Anyone who commits these reckless acts will be held fully accountable for their behavior. That’s what we owe New Yorkers here today. The idea of creating these safe roadways for drivers, bicyclists, pedestrians alike is being reinforced through a weekly traffic safety forum that’s held at police headquarters.”
Royster also reached out to the public to help with the quality of life issue.
“Please pick up your phone, dial 911, call 311, or log a complaint on New York City 311 smartphone app,” she said. “If you know, or suspect that a ghost car is in the area, your complaint will lead an NYPD officer to the area to verify or possibly summons and tow that vehicle. And if the driver or the owner is present, they will be arrested. Our data shows that last year, arrests involving vehicles that displayed temporary paper plates rose to 3,568. This is a 300-percent increase compared to the 893 arrests that were made in 2016 involving vehicles that fit this category.”
Royster also noted that 25 percent of the 5,500 vehicles with paper plates found in violation and towed by the NYPD’s Traffic Enforcement District last year were never retrieved by their owners. Through June of this year, of the 1,646 vehicles that were towed with paper plates, more than 34 percent were not claimed.
Mayor Eric Adams called them “ghost vehicles.”
“Ghost guns can’t be traced, ghost vehicles can’t be traced. And we know if we don’t get them off the streets, just like ghost guns, they become a weapon of death for our innocent New Yorkers,” Adams said. “And just like the ghost guns, these ghost cars, are often used in major crimes. And as the chief indicated, of the 271 traffic deaths in 2021, 16 involved vehicles with temporary plates, nine of those plates were illegal.”
