Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) Bridges and Tunnels and the New York City Police Department (NYPD), along with regional law enforcement partners, accelerated their crackdown on ghost plates and persistent toll violators in four operations across all five boroughs. An operation by the multi-agency task force is underway today at the Robert F. Kennedy Bridge.
During three operations in the past 11 days, officers seized 118 vehicles for a number of violations including unpaid tolls, unregistered vehicles, and suspended licenses among other traffic infractions late Saturday, May 18, into Sunday morning, May 19, at the Verrazzano-Narrows Bridge, Monday, May 20, at the Queens-Midtown Tunnel and Wednesday, May 22, at the Hugh L. Carey Tunnel.
The scofflaws had amassed more than $996,000 in unpaid tolls and fees, judgments, and debts. The operations resulted in 15 arrests and 1,203 summonses issued. The Port Authority of New York and New Jersey made 11 arrests, issued 185 summonses and seized 19 vehicles in an operation at the Holland Tunnel, representing almost $143,000 in tolls and fees.
Through 15 joint enforcement operations, officers have seized 740 vehicles, made 174 arrests and have issued 5,345 summonses.
MTA Bridges and Tunnels Revenue Recovery Efforts
MTA Bridges and Tunnels, through tolls and fees collected, has recovered more than 98% of the tolls owed by recidivist toll scofflaws since the inception of its DMV Registration Suspension Program.
This enforcement aligns with a coordinated strategy by MTA Bridges and Tunnels and City and State law enforcement partners who announced a joint effort against obstructed and counterfeit license plates last year. Since the start of Open Road Tolling, Bridge and Tunnel officers have interdicted 9,800 vehicles for persistent non-payment of tolls.
MTA Bridges and Tunnels uses a variety of tools to identify violators and interdict vehicles:
- DMV registration suspensions
- Robust roadside interdictions
- Data-driven intelligence to continuously identify persistent toll violators
Motorists can avoid violation fees and registration suspensions by paying their toll bills on time, using the award-winning Tolls NY free mobile application to pay tolls or manage their E-ZPass accounts. E-ZPass NY Customer Service Center account holders can save at least 25% at MTA B&T tolled crossings by using E-ZPass. To set up an E-ZPass account or for more information, visit www.ezpassny.com. NYS Vehicle and Traffic Law prohibits any covering or coating that intentionally conceals, obscures, or distorts an image of license plates.
