A new analysis conducted by Manhattan Borough President Mark Levine has revealed that “ghost” license plates are costing New York City $200 million annually. These plates, which are often obscured, altered, or entirely fake, allow drivers to evade tolls, speed cameras, and red-light cameras, resulting in massive financial losses for the city.
The analysis found that over 100,000 vehicles with unreadable plates pass through city cameras each month, with more than 5% of all vehicles being unidentifiable. The rise in ghost plates has been fueled by an online industry offering gadgets that make license plates unreadable. Some devices, likened to “James Bond-level” technology, include covers that can be activated with a button to obscure plates.
Levine noted that the proliferation of speed, red-light, and toll cameras in the city has unintentionally led to the surge in ghost plates, as drivers seek to avoid penalties. “You better believe it influences behavior when people know their plate is unreadable,” Levine told The Post.
Beyond the financial impact, ghost plates pose significant safety risks. Parents like Uber driver Luther Sibuea worry that these drivers could hit pedestrians, including children, and escape without consequence. “It’s more than not paying tickets,” Sibuea emphasized, expressing concern for his 5-year-old son’s safety.
To address the issue, Levine has proposed several measures, including the use of RFID tags on registration stickers and artificial intelligence to match obstructed plates with registered vehicles. He also advocates for a crackdown on the online sale of ghost plates and related devices, as well as increased fines for offenders.
City council members have also called on the federal government to take action, urging U.S. Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg to curb the sale of fraudulent paper license plates. As the problem escalates, city officials are under pressure to implement effective solutions to curb the use of ghost plates and protect both city revenue and public safety.
