MTA Bridge and Tunnel Officers, NYPD and Law Enforcement Partners Impound 286 Vehicles During Six Joint Enforcement Operations in September Focusing on Ghost Plates and[...]

Through 44 Operations, Officers Have Impounded 2,449 Vehicles, Issued 22,960 Summonses, and Made 521Arrests

View Photos from Joint Enforcement Operations on Sept. 4, Sept. 9, Sept. 17, Sept. 20

View Videos from Joint Enforcement Operations on Sept. 9, Sept. 17, Sept. 20

Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) Bridges and Tunnels and the New York City Police Department (NYPD), along with regional law enforcement partners, today announced the results of September's interagency task force operations to remove ghost vehicles and crack down on persistent toll violators.

"September saw six operations where Bridge and Tunnel Officers joined our regional partners to fight against the ghost plates some people use to avoid paying their tolls," said MTA Bridges and Tunnels President Catherine Sheridan. "This behavior won't be tolerated. Pay your tolls, don't risk losing your car."

In September, officers impounded a total of 286 vehicles at operations held at MTA and City crossings including the Verrazzano-Narrows, Bronx-Whitestone, Robert F. Kennedy, Cross Bay and Third Ave. bridges.

The scofflaws interdicted through all 44 operations had amassed approximately $17 million in unpaid tolls, fees and judgments. The operations also resulted in 521 arrests and 22,960 summonses issued.

See results of each day's operation below:

On Wednesday, Sept. 4, an enforcement operation took place at the Queens Midtown Tunnel, which resulted in 6 arrests, 32 impounded vehicles, and 547 summonses.

On Monday, Sept. 9, an enforcement operation took place at the Bronx-Whitestone Bridge, which resulted in 15 arrests, 75 impounded vehicles, and 537 summonses.

On Saturday, Sept. 14, an enforcement operation took place at the Robert F. Kennedy Bridge, which resulted in 6 arrests, 33 impounded vehicles, and 556 summonses.

On Tuesday, Sept. 17, an enforcement operation took place at the Verrazzano-Narrows Bridge, which resulted in 8 arrests, 49 impounded vehicles, and 750 summonses.

On Friday, Sept. 20, an enforcement operation took place at the Throgs Neck Bridge, which resulted in 15 arrests, 53 impounded vehicles, and 756 summonses.

On Monday, Sept. 30, an enforcement operation took place at the Henry Hudson Bridge, which resulted in 8 arrests, 44 impounded vehicles, and 814 summonses.

Vehicles impounded were for various violations including suspended registrations due to unpaid tolls, unregistered vehicles, and suspended licenses, among other traffic infractions.

The interagency operation included MTA Bridge and Tunnel Officers, MTA Police, NYPD, Port Authority Police, New York State Police, New York City Sheriff's Office, the New York State Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV), and Taxi and Limousine Commission (TLC) Police.

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 more than 11,000 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

Additionally, MTA Bridges and Tunnels has sent more than 30,000 judgment warning notices to registered vehicle owners who are part of a group that collectively owes $665 million in unpaid tolls and violation fees. Almost $350,000 has been collected through this effort so far.

Motorists can avoid violation fees and registration suspensions for unpaid tolls 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.

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