NYC Cracks Down on Toll Evasion, Protecting Transit Funds

MTA completes 100th ghost plate operation, stopping 5,000 vehicles since March 2024

MTA Hits 100 Ghost Plate Operations

The MTA's reached a major enforcement milestone with drivers who evade bridge and tunnel tolls using fake license plates. The transit agency completed its 100th ghost plate enforcement operation on Monday, officials announced. Since March 2024, the operations have stopped about 5,000 vehicles and issued 3,500 summonses across the New York-New Jersey metro area, according to the MTA.

Context

Ghost plates—obscured, altered, or fake license plates—let drivers skip tolls and avoid accountability on MTA bridges and tunnels, officials said. The enforcement operations involve partnerships with NYPD, New York State Police, Port Authority Police, and other regional law enforcement agencies. Janno Lieber, MTA Chair and CEO, said ghost plates are "a scourge on our roadways, allowing bad actors to evade tolls and accountability." The MTA estimates ghost plates and toll evasion cost the agency about $50 million in annual toll revenue that funds transit infrastructure and services.

Enforcement Details

The 100 enforcement operations since March 2024 have targeted vehicles with fraudulent plates at various MTA bridge and tunnel facilities. Officials stopped roughly 5,000 vehicles and issued 3,500 summonses during the operations. The MTA didn't provide specific arrest figures from the enforcement operations. Details on vehicle impoundments weren't disclosed. Cathy Sheridan, President of MTA Bridges and Tunnels, said every driver who uses a ghost plate "is stealing from the transit system and from their fellow New Yorkers."

Program Timeline

The ghost plate enforcement program began in March 2024 and reached its 100th operation in August 2025—about 17 months of sustained enforcement activity. The MTA conducts operations at various locations across its bridge and tunnel facilities but doesn't announce specific locations in advance for operational security reasons. Michael Kemper, Chief of Police for the MTA Police Department, said the operations are "critical to maintaining the integrity of our toll collection system." The MTA hasn't disclosed the operational costs of the enforcement program.

Impact on Drivers

Drivers caught with ghost plates face summonses and potential additional penalties under New York State Vehicle and Traffic Law, which prohibits obscuring, altering, or using fake license plates. The enforcement operations aim to protect honest toll payers and ensure fair payment across the system, officials said. The MTA will continue conducting enforcement operations with law enforcement partners across the region. Riders can check Moovit for real-time updates on MTA bridge and tunnel traffic conditions.