MTA officers make 21 arrests, issue 793 summonses in interagency crackdown on ghost plates, toll violators

NEW YORK (1010 WINS/WCBS 880) — MTA Bridges and Tunnels officers, the NYPD and regional law enforcement partners made 21 arrests, seized 21 vehicles and issued 793 summonses in a joint two-day interagency operation focused on quelling ghost plates and persistent toll violators, transit officials announced on Sunday.

The crackdown took place at the Robert F. Kennedy Bridge on Thursday and the Throgs Neck Bridge, George Washington Bridge and Lincoln Tunnel on Friday.

In this time, officers seized 21 vehicles for numerous violations including unpaid tolls, unregistered vehicles, suspended licenses and other traffic infractions, officials said.

Twenty-one people were arrested and 793 summonses were issued to remedy the $586,000 in unpaid tolls and fees, judgments and debts the scofflaws racked up.

“Amplified enforcement efforts have yielded big returns and hopefully sent a message to all scofflaws and aspiring scofflaws—if you try to skip out on the toll at any crossing in the metropolitan region you will only end up paying more,” MTA B&T President Catherine Sheridan said.

Among those caught red-handed was an Escalade driver with multiple license suspensions and a flatbed 18-wheeler driver whose license plate was altered.

The Escalade driver was arrested, and the 18-wheeler was seized by authorities.

Between 2022 and 2023, MTA B&T vehicle seizures surged 46.6% and officers issued 15% more summonses for obstructed license plates; last year, 2,731 vehicles were nabbed and 17,865 summonses were handed out to motorists.

“Drivers who believe they can get away without paying what they owe at our crossings should think twice. You will be caught, and you will be prosecuted,” Port Authority Police Superintendent Edward Cetnar said. "Our commitment to equity and enforcement on our roadways is iron-clad.”

This year, 3,000 summonses have already been issued, and MTA B&T said that since the introduction of the agency’s DMV Registration Suspension Program, 98% of tolls owed by recidivist toll evaders have been recovered.

The interagency operation included MTA B&T officers, the NYPD, New York State Police, Port Authority Police, New York City Sheriff's Office and the New York State Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV).

“Each member of our multiagency task force is fully committed to identifying every unsafe, unregistered ‘ghost’ vehicle in New York City,” NYPD Commissioner Edward Caban said.