Ghost Cars in NYC: A Plan to Tackle Fake Plates and Unreadable License Plates

Ghost Cars Haunt NYC Streets: A Plan to Curb Fake Plates

Defaced, obstructed, and fraudulent license plates are a growing problem in New York City, making it difficult to enforce traffic laws and collect tolls. These 'ghost cars' are nearly impossible to detect and penalize due to obscured, scratched out, or completely fake license plates.

The issue: Every month, more than 5% of vehicles passing through speed cameras, red light cameras, and toll stations across the city have unreadable license plates. This means millions of dollars in unpaid tickets, fines, and tolls for offenses like speeding, running red lights, and evading tolls go uncollected each year.

The solution: Manhattan Borough President Gale Brewer has proposed a plan to address this problem, calling it Ghost Car Governance. The plan aims to ensure every vehicle has a readable and valid license plate, helping to improve public safety and enforce traffic regulations.

More on the issue:

• The proliferation of fraudulent plates compromises the effectiveness of enforcement cameras, which are increasingly used to monitor traffic violations and collect tolls.
• The trend is worsening, posing a threat to the safety of New Yorkers.

Take action: Learn more about the Ghost Car Governance plan and its proposed solutions by visiting the Manhattan Borough President's website.