NYC task force cracks down on 'ghost cars,' results in arrests, intercepts, and seized plates

NEW YORK (1010 WINS/WCBS 880) – The MTA announced on Wednesday that officers intercepted vehicles, issued summonses, confiscated fake license plates, and arrested drivers over the past few days as unpaid tolls and fees totaled over $450,000.

“MTA Bridges & Tunnels has a very simple message – don’t cover your license plate or use fake plates,” said MTA Bridges and Tunnels President Catherine Sheridan. “If you do, we will catch you. Your car may also be seized and you could be arrested. These offenders are stealing money from the public’s pockets when they illegally use our bridges and tunnels. It's not fair when drivers in expensive sports cars skip out on thousands of dollars in tolls, and New Yorkers are tired of it.”

Gov. Kathy Hochul and Mayor Eric Adams had announced the launch of a multi-agency city-state task force dedicated to identifying and removing so-called "ghost cars" from New York City streets on March 12.

"The ghostbusters have arrived. You can see what the ghostbusters can do," Gov. Kathy Hochul had said during a presser.

The most recent operation was on the Queens Midtown Tunnel on Monday where officers  interdicted 19 vehicles,  issued 81 summonses, and confiscated two fraudulent license plates. One of the top persistent toll violators owed almost $76,000, according to the MTA.

MTA Bridges and Tunnels employs various methods, such as DMV registration suspensions, robust roadside interdictions, and data-driven intelligence, to identify violators and interdict vehicles.

Several agencies, including the NYPD, Port Authority, New York State Police, DMV, and NYC Sheriff Department, collaborated in a joint operation on March 21 across the region. A total of 10 people were arrested, 45 vehicle seizures, and 307 summonses were issued.

A targeted operation at the  Bronx-Whitestone Bridge, George Washington Bridge, and Lincoln and Holland Tunnels resulted in a total of 15 drivers being arrested, 356 summonses issued, and 58 vehicles seized, according to the MTA.

In 2023, a total of 2,705 vehicles were intercepted which is a 50% increase from 2022.