ALBANY, NY (May 16, 2025) — New York State Police, in partnership with the Department of Motor Vehicles and various state and local law enforcement agencies, issued over 3,300 tickets during the inaugural “Operation Plate Check,” a week-long enforcement campaign targeting vehicles with fraudulent or altered license plates, Governor Kathy Hochul announced today.
The operation, which ran from April 26 to May 3, aimed to curb the rising use of fictitious license plates and fake “temp tags” on New York roadways. Authorities issued 3,308 tickets for license plate violations and 83 for suspended registrations, while recovering 14 stolen vehicles.
“The safety of New Yorkers is my top priority, and this enforcement campaign reinforces ongoing efforts to crack down on individuals who are using fake and defaced plates to avoid paying tolls or detection by law enforcement,” Hochul said. “Thanks to the efforts of the New York State Police and our partners in local law enforcement, we are sending a clear message to drivers: if you attempt to alter your license plate to avoid traffic cameras and toll readers, you will be caught.”
New York State Police Troop T, responsible for patrolling the New York State Thruway, led the effort with 664 tickets for license plate violations. Superintendent Steven G. James praised the collaborative work, stating, “The use of fraudulent and obstructed or defaced plates undermines public safety, and we will continue our efforts to hold those who are trying to cheat the system accountable for their actions.”
The campaign builds on a 2024 multi-agency task force launched by Hochul, New York City Mayor Eric Adams, the Metropolitan Transportation Authority, and the New York City Police Department to remove “ghost cars”—vehicles with untraceable plates—from city streets. Since March 11, 2024, the task force has conducted 82 toll enforcement operations, resulting in 1,055 arrests, over 46,000 summonses, and 4,525 interdicted vehicles.
Department of Motor Vehicles Commissioner Mark J.F. Schroeder emphasized the operation’s broader impact: “The collaborative effort to crack down on forged and altered license plates—often called ‘ghost plates’—has been an important one to protect the safety of New York’s roads and everyone who uses them.”
New York State Thruway Authority Executive Director Frank G. Hoare added, “Motorists who deliberately alter license plates or use fraudulent plates to avoid paying tolls are breaking the law—and New York State Police will catch them.”
The operation involved multiple agencies, including the MTA Police, TBTA Police, NYPD, Taxi and Limousine Commission Police, and various local police departments. The New York State Department of Motor Vehicles would like to encourage motorists with peeling and damaged license plates to visit the DMV website to learn more about replacing those plates.
This article was drafted with the aid of Grok, an AI tool by xAI, under the direction and editing of Robert Cox to ensure accuracy and adherence to journalistic standards.