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NYC to crack down on obscured license plates as congestion pricing begins

Published  January 7, 2025 11:07pm EST
Congestion Pricing
FOX 5 NY

NYC officials warn congestion pricing cheats

New York City officials say they will ramp up enforcement efforts against drivers trying to evade the new $9 congestion pricing toll by obscuring their license plates. FOX 5 NY's Linda Schmidt has the story.

The Brief

    • Officials are proposing stricter penalties, including $50 fines for parked cars with obscured license plates, to combat toll evasion under the new congestion pricing plan.
    • The MTA lost $46 million in 2022 due to toll evasion
    • A public hearing on the proposed measures will be held online on February 6

NEW YORK - New York City officials are putting drivers on notice. Don't try and obscure your license plates to avoid the controversial $9 congestion pricing tolls.

City officials announced a proposal Monday aimed at penalizing drivers who use tactics such as covering plates with plastic, glass, dirt, or even bike racks to prevent toll gantries from reading them. The crackdown could include a $50 fine for parked cars with obstructed plates, in addition to penalties for those caught driving through toll areas undetected.

"There’s always going to be someone that's going to try to circumvent the system, and we’ve got to do everything possible to catch them," Mayor Eric Adams said. "Make sure the laws allow the confiscation of vehicles if needed, and make sure the penalties are severe enough to deter them."

Toll evasion has become a major issue for the MTA in recent years, stubbornly remaining so despite enforcement attempts.

'Ghost car' crackdown

FOX 5 NY's Morgan McKay has more on the steps being taken to get these cars off the streets.

"In 2022, the MTA was losing $46M in toll evasion," said Andrew Rein of the Citizens Budget Commission, a watchdog group. "Now there's been increased enforcement since then but also, frankly, increased evasion since then. With congestion pricing, more and more people will choose to try and evade the tolls and that's why enforcement right now is especially critical."

New York City Councilmember Vickie Paladino stirred controversy this week when she appeared to advocate for New Yorkers to sabotage congestion pricing cameras.

"Important warning: A high-powered green laser pointer like the ones you find on Ebay for under $30 can destroy a camera sensor," Paladino said in a post on X. "So if you buy one of these lasers, be sure to NOT point them at any cameras, because they could be permanently damaged!"

A public hearing will be held online on February 6, giving residents a chance to weigh in on the proposal.

The congestion pricing program, which officially began Sunday, aims to reduce traffic and improve air quality by charging drivers entering Manhattan’s central business district during peak hours.

Congestion PricingNew York CityCrime and Public Safety