the staff of the Ridgewood blog
Fort lee NJ, Governor Kathy Hochul recently announced the results of the first-ever “Operation Plate Check,” a weeklong statewide enforcement campaign aimed at identifying and penalizing drivers using fraudulent license plates and fake temporary tags. Led by the New York State Police in collaboration with the Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) and various law enforcement agencies, the operation resulted in over 3,300 tickets issued between April 26 and May 3, 2025.
A Major Step Toward Safer Roads
“The safety of New Yorkers is my top priority,” Governor Hochul stated. “This enforcement campaign reinforces our efforts to crack down on individuals using fake or defaced plates to avoid tolls and traffic enforcement. If you try to cheat the system, you will be caught.”
The operation responded to a troubling trend: a rise in the use of forged, obscured, or defaced license plates — often referred to as “ghost plates.” These plates are used to evade traffic cameras, toll readers, and law enforcement detection.
Enforcement Results
During the seven-day campaign:
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3,308 tickets were issued for license plate violations
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83 tickets were issued for suspended registrations
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14 stolen vehicles were recovered
Notably, Troop T, which patrols the New York State Thruway, issued a campaign-high 664 tickets for plate violations.
A United Front Against Fraud
NYS Police Superintendent Steven G. James said:
“The use of fraudulent and defaced plates undermines public safety. This campaign sends a clear message: accountability matters.”
DMV Commissioner Mark J.F. Schroeder added:
“Cracking down on ghost plates not only improves public safety but ensures everyone pays their fair share to maintain our roadways.”
Thruway Authority Executive Director Frank G. Hoare emphasized:
“Toll evasion is illegal. Motorists who alter plates or use fraudulent ones will be caught and penalized.”
The Broader Fight Against Ghost Cars
Operation Plate Check is just one part of a larger statewide initiative. Earlier in 2024, Governor Hochul partnered with NYC Mayor Eric Adams, the MTA, and NYPD to launch a multi-agency task force targeting ghost cars across New York City.
Since its inception in March 2024, the task force has:
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Conducted 82 toll enforcement operations
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Made 1,055 arrests
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Issued over 46,000 summonses
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Interdicted 4,525 vehicles with fraudulent plates or suspended registrations
Law Enforcement Partnerships
This operation was supported by a wide range of agencies, including the MTA Police, TBTA Police, NYPD, Taxi and Limousine Commission Police, Park Police, and numerous local police departments and sheriff’s offices across the state.
Have a Damaged Plate? Here’s What to Do
The New York State DMV encourages drivers with peeling, damaged, or unreadable plates to visit the official DMV website for instructions on how to replace them and stay in compliance with state law.
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how about summons to the ambulances on RT 17 that are making trips to the diamond district with lights and sirens on . they are actually taxis
every day i see these ambulances from Kyras Joel NY creating havoc on the roads. If someone from that far upstate was a patient, they would stop at the nearest hospital.. good samaritan in suffern… or maybe valley in paramus… this is nothing but an abuse but nobody does anything about it.