One US city is cracking down on “ghost cars” and anyone caught violating the law is going to face a penalty in the form of a fine or even registration suspension. Ghost cars, or ghost plates, are used illegally to avoid detection by traffic enforcement cameras and the practice is costing the city in terms of lost revenue.
If you’re driving with ghost plates, be prepared for a fine
Ghost plates are vehicle registration plates that have been intentionally altered or obscured to make them unreadable by traffic enforcement cameras, such as those that capture people driving above the speed limit or running red lights. They’re also used to dodge tolls charged via automated numberplate-reading software.
Drivers do this by altering the design of the plate or the characters, using a tinted cover, or fitting their vehicles with plates that are illegal altogether.
Plates that are missing entirely also fall into the category of “ghost cars.”
The aim is to avoid penalties or tolls, but if drivers are caught, the penalties for this illegal activity range from fines, impounding of vehicles, or even criminal charges in extreme cases. The practice has increased along with the increased use of traffic cameras in urban areas in efforts to improve road safety and reduce traffic violations.
New Yorkers breaking traffic laws are in law enforcement’s sights
The city that’s decided to take a harsher view of the use of ghost plates is New York and it’s ramping up efforts to crack down on drivers trying to fly under the radar. Announced in January and starting on April 16, 2025, $50 fines will be issued to vehicles parked in the city limits fitted with an obscured plate, front or rear. No film or covering at all is allowed to be placed over the registration plate.
Drivers busted with non-compliant plates more than once could be penalized with a 90-day registration suspension.
Motorists could be violating the law unknowingly
It’s not just motorists who intentionally obscure their plates who may be busted. Authorities say that plates that are not securely fastened or kept clean may also incur a fine. For example, they shouldn’t be covered in dirt or paint.
City Hall reports that 73,000 ghost cars and unregistered vehicles have been identified and some removed from the roads since Mayor Eric Adams took over the New York administration. Officials report that this is the 65th operation of its kind since March 2024 and is a coordinated effort between the MTA Police, NYPD, and New York State Police.
What are the rules for compliant license registration plates?
To avoid being fined, drivers need to adhere to the following stipulations from April 16 or face a fine of up to $50:
- Registration plates must be clean and free of any kind of obstruction, coating, or covering.
- Plates must be fastened securely to the vehicle and be clearly visible from the front and the rear.
- Anything that makes the plate unreadable by blocking or obscuring it, such as rust or plastic, is prohibited.
Drivers are reminded that simply parking your vehicle with an obscured plate could incur a fine, the car doesn’t have to be in operation.
Drivers are also reminded that they need to prepare for changes in their licenses in 2025. The Department of Motor Vehicles is reminding New Yorkers that they are required to upgrade their license or identification cards to REAL IDs before the deadline.
Criminals also use the tactic of obscuring plates
New York officials say that the goal of the crackdown on plates is to enhance public safety and prevent toll evasion, a practice that costs the city in missed revenue. There’s also a more serious aspect, as criminal elements use the tactic of altering, obscuring, or removing plates to avoid detection, marking a more severe violation of the law.
New York City statistics show that there has already been a significant improvement in traffic safety at locations monitored by speed cameras. Daily violations have dropped by 94% and traffic-related injuries and deaths have decreased by 14%, admirable figures indeed.
There’s another new law affecting motoring in the State of New York, but this one is aimed at service station owners and involves charges on filling tires with air.