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Since last year, a joint state and city task force has impounded over 4,000 vehicles in a crackdown on ghost license plates across New York City.
Since March 11, officials have carried out more than 70 toll enforcement operations across the city, leading to 902 arrests and the issuance of over 39,000 summonses, according to the MTA.
Beginning in April, drivers in New York City will encounter penalties for damaged, altered, or missing license plates, known as ghost plates, Fox5 New York said.
This action targets the increasing number and issue of ghost plates or fake plates that are used to disregard tolls, law enforcement, as well as speed cameras, according to Fox5 New York.
This effort is part of an ongoing initiative to combat the use of ghost plates in the city, with coordination between the NYPD, MTA Police, and New York State Police. Officials report that this marks the 65th operation of its kind since March 2024, Fox5 New York said.
In 2025 alone, authorities have conducted 13 toll enforcement operations, leading to 168 arrests, 650 towed vehicles, and 5,775 summonses. According to the MTA, these violations amount to $4.6 million in unpaid tolls, fees, judgments, and debts, According to Patch.
Starting April 16, new license plate rules will explicitly prohibit any obstruction, including dirt, plastic covers, or other materials. Parking with an obscured plate will result in a $50 fine, Patch said.
The newly adopted rules clarify that any obstruction to a license plate—whether dirt, rust, plastic coverings, or any other material that makes a plate unreadable—is strictly prohibited. Parking with an obscured plate will result in a $50 fine, NYC.GOV said in an immediate release on March 17.
New rules to enhance license plate visibility will be applied, such as license plate visibility, distorted plates, ban on vehicle covers, and prohibition of altered or fake plates, NYC.GOV said.
"Drivers who obscure their license plates are not just breaking the law — they are putting everyone at risk," said NYC DOT Commissioner Ydanis Rodriguez.
Officials say the goal is to improve public safety and prevent toll evasion, as well as criminal activity linked to ghost plates, according to Fox5 New York.
This comes as New York's congestion pricing plan faces opposition from the Trump administration, which has ordered the state to suspend the program by Friday. State officials, including Gov. Kathy Hochul, remain committed to moving forward with the initiative to reduce traffic and fund transit improvements, Fox5 New York said.
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