Ghost Cars Are Inundating New York, Yet No One Is Taking Action | Carscoops

      Investigation Reveals NYC's Ghost Cars with Fake or Missing Plates Drive Worse and Accumulate Millions in Fines

      7 hours ago

      by Stephen Rivers

      A report from the NYC Council links ghost cars to increased unpaid fines and traffic violations.

      Almost a third of surveyed vehicles without New York plates were found to have fake, mismatched, or absent tags.

      Officials are advocating for more focused enforcement and an increase in towing capacity to address the issue.

      In New York City, the number of so-called 'ghost cars' is on the rise. These vehicles possess out-of-state plates, obscured tags, or sometimes lack plates entirely. A city council investigation indicates that they are linked to a significantly higher rate of reckless driving, illegal parking, and unpaid fines.

      Investigators documented over 3,500 parked vehicles across a 50-square-block area in NYC. Out of these, nearly 770 did not have New York plates. Of that group, almost a third had temporary plates, no plates, or plates that did not match the vehicle.

      Traffic Violations That Accumulate

      The findings also revealed that these 'ghost cars' have unpaid fines that are approximately 2.5 times greater than those of vehicles with New York plates. These violations include speeding in school zones and blocking fire hydrants more frequently than their NY plate counterparts.

      “It’s similar to the issue with smoke shops; all New Yorkers have noticed these plates appearing, but enforcement has been lacking, allowing them to continue unpunished,” said Councilmember Gale Brewer, who represents the Upper West Side and chairs the Council’s investigations committee, in an interview with The Gothamist. “Now it has escalated.”

      A Rising Underground Market

      The report also highlighted the expanding black market for fraudulent registrations, expired government plates, and counterfeit tags. These resources enable lawbreakers and, occasionally, convicted criminals to evade detection. The city council estimates that it loses roughly $100 million each year in revenue related to these untraceable vehicles.

      This type of crime has been under scrutiny for years. In January 2024, authorities reported that ghost plates had allowed drivers to evade $108 million in speeding fees.

      “Speed cameras are effective in reducing speeding, preventing accidents, and saving lives,” stated NYC Comptroller Brad Lander. “Regrettably, a small yet swiftly increasing number of drivers are illegally obscuring their license plates to speed without repercussions. These offenders are jeopardizing their neighbors’ lives and safety while cheating the city out of $100 million annually.”

      The Ongoing Struggle

      Measures to combat this issue are in progress. Just last month, we reported that initiatives to clamp down on these plates have generated $12 million in revenue this year alone. It appears that both the NYPD and violators are intensifying their efforts to outsmart each other.

      Photos MTA