The Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) is taking action against a growing trend in the New York City area of drivers evading tolls by License plates are blurred or faked. Along with the city’s public transport system, the MTA operates seven bridges and two tunnels entirely within the city’s boundaries. These intersections do not have toll booths and relies on taking pictures of license plates without an electronic E-ZPass.
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MTA announced that their Bridge and Tunnel Officers stopped and seized 63 vehicles registered to alleged violators in two consecutive days of targeted enforcement. According to the agency, vehicle owners owe more than $1.5 million in unpaid fees and charges. The crackdown took place on April 6 at the Bronx-Whitestone Bridge and on April 11 at the Verazzano-Narrows Bridge, which connects Staten Island and Brooklyn.
Richard L. Hildebrand II, Vice President & CEO of MTA Roads and Bridges, say in a staopinion:
“In a perfect world, everyone pays their toll – their fair share. If you pay tolls, we won’t have to ask the DMV to suspend your subscription. Bridge and Tunnel staff are tracking persistent toll violators and the bottom line is if you use fake number plates you can get caught and if you don’t pay we will stop you and tow your car.”
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In New York State, Ministry of Motor Vehicles Vehicle registration may be suspended if the owner commits three or more violations for non-payment of tolls or violations in the amount of more than $200 over a five-year period. From there, law enforcement officers use specialized license plate readers to identify motorists crossing the bridge with their licenses suspended. The MTA has recovered more than 90% of tolls owed by evaders since the inception of the DMV Registration Suspension Program.
During two days of targeted enforcement, the MTA also intercepted and arrested a driver for attempting to cross the Verazzano-Narrows Bridge with an alleged fake Georgia license plate on his Mercedes-Benz SUV. The MTA has blocked 1,800 vehicles that repeatedly evaded tolls over the past year and recovered tens of millions of dollars.
