NYC Cops Impound Over 50 Vehicles In Ghost License Plate Sweep

BROOKLYN, NY — Over 50 cars were towed last week as city and state authorities stepped up their crackdown on ghost license plates in NYC.

According to the New York City Sheriff’s Office, about 53 vehicles were towed across Brooklyn during an overnight ghost license plate operation on Oct. 24. The enforcement sweep ran from midnight to 7 a.m. and targeted cars with obscured or missing plates.

The crackdown follows new license plate rules that went into effect on April 16, which ban any obstruction—such as dirt, plastic coverings, or other materials—and impose a $50 fine for parking with an obscured plate, Patch previously reported.

“Drivers who obscure their license plates are not just breaking the law — they are putting everyone at risk,” NYC Department of Transportation Commissioner Ydanis Rodriguez said. “Clear and visible plates are more important than ever to ensure public safety, fairness, and improve traffic flow."

In recent years, the city has intensified efforts against ghost plates, which are often completely counterfeited or paper plates. NYPD officials have blamed these vehicles for contributing to a rise in dangerous police chases across the city.

Past city and state operations have towed a total of 5,343 vehicles for suspended registrations or fraudulent, altered, or obstructed plates. These “ghost cars” evade traffic cameras and toll readers, and officials say targeted crackdowns have helped reduce unbillable tolls caused by such vehicles by 20 percent.