A new law, especially one that targets “ghost license plates,” was passed on September 1 to crack down on illegal changes made to cars. People who break this rule will now get a $200 fine right away.
The new law, which goes into action on September 1, wants to get rid of “ghost plates,” which are changed license plates that are meant to avoid automatic traffic cameras.
Ghost plate
It’s called a “ghost plate” if the license plate has been changed in a way that makes it hard for police to read. Automated traffic cameras may not be able to see these changes, which can lead to fare evasion and other criminal activities.
The new law doesn’t allow the following changes to be made to license plates:
- Opaque coatings
- Extra-glossy films
- Digital devices that obscure or distort the plate’s characters
- Any other alteration that makes it difficult for enforcement systems to read
Starting September 1, these changes to license plates are no longer legal to buy or use in New York.
If drivers are found using these “ghost plates” to avoid paying tolls, they will be fined $200 right away. This fine is applied right away upon discovery, making sure that the new rules are quickly followed.
By putting this new law into effect, the government hopes to make the roads safer and make sure that all cars follow the rules for license plates.
“You will get caught,” New York Governor Kathy Hochul told reporters at a recent event with New York City Mayor Eric Adams.
Cracking Down on Toll Evaders
“Those were the days when we’d let people walk through here thinking, ‘I’ll take a chance because I’ll never get caught.'” Hochul stressed, indicating a new age of strict enforcement.
Plate-hiding modifications have been used by drivers to avoid paying tolls, and this is now being closely looked into.
The Cost of Deception
WKBW, an ABC station in Buffalo, says that these tools for changing plates cost between $5 and $500. But taxpayers pay a much higher price because people who don’t pay tolls put the pressure on them.
Stricter Rules and Their Impact
New rules that make it illegal to sell devices that cover license plates are part of a larger effort to make sure that everyone in the state pays their tolls. The goal of this move is to get back lost money and make sure that everyone can use public assets fairly.
Enforcement in Action
Before, New York City officials said they would take away dozens of cars that regularly skipped tolls by wearing reflective gear or not having license plates.
Officers from all over the city pushed drivers to pay their tolls while standing in front of a line of seized Cadillacs, Mercedes-Benz, and Land Rovers.