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Final month, Meeting Member Jenifer Rajkumar launched the “Ghostbuster Act,” a brand new invoice aimed toward cracking down on using counterfeit license plates and enhancing the enforcement of untraceable ghost automobiles utilizing Automobile Identification Numbers (VINs) in New York Metropolis.
As a part of “Public Safety Week,” Mayor Eric Adams and Gov. Kathy Hochul introduced that 73,000 ghost automobiles and unlawful motorized autos have been faraway from NYC streets for the reason that begin of Adams’ administration. Ghost automobiles, that are practically inconceivable to hint by site visitors cameras and toll readers resulting from cast or altered plates, pose important security and enforcement challenges.
In 2024 alone, the NYPD and DSNY eliminated over 7,500 ghost automobiles and 27,000 unlawful motorized autos. Because the launch of a joint process drive in September, greater than 5,000 ghost automobiles have been taken off the streets.
Rajkumar’s “Ghostbuster Act” seeks to construct on this progress by empowering legislation enforcement besides or tow autos with faux plates, revoke recognition of out-of-state paper plates, and confiscate instruments used to obscure plates, additional bolstering efforts to fight this public security subject.
“Together, we are going to exorcise the ghost plates haunting New York City,” Rajkumar acknowledged. “This is part of my larger push to improve the quality of life in New York City.”
Earlier this 12 months, she additionally championed the SMOKEOUT Act, which led to the closure of over 1,200 unlawful smoke outlets, and Priscilla’s Legislation, which requires registration, insurance coverage, and inspection for e-bikes. Rajkumar represents the thirty eighth Meeting District, which incorporates Glendale, Ozone Park, Richmond Hill, Ridgewood, and Woodhaven.
Meeting Member Jenifer Rajkumar and Mayor Adams appeared at a press convention on unlawful “ghost cars” in Jamaica on Sept. 18.Picture by Michael Appleton/Mayoral Images Workplace
Ghost automobiles and different unlawful autos pose public security dangers and are more and more being utilized in violent crimes, together with shootings and robberies, in addition to in site visitors offenses like hit-and-runs. Additionally they deprive taxpayers of tens of millions of {dollars} in unpaid tolls and costs that might in any other case be invested in authorities companies.
“Our kids, families, and all New Yorkers must feel safe and be safe in our city, but ghost cars contribute to the feeling of disorder, and that’s why our administration has pumped the brakes on using these illegal vehicles,” stated Mayor Adams.
“While outlaws use fraudulent, defaced, or non-existent license plates and other illegal vehicles to commit and evade accountability for serious crimes, including shootings, robberies, and hit-and-runs, thanks to our partnership across city and state agencies, we have taken more than 73,000 ghost cars and illegal vehicles off New York City’s streets since the start of our administration. We are not going to stand by while people break the law, defraud our city, and endanger the public.”
In 2023, the NYPD confiscated over 18,000 unlawful and unregistered motorized scooters, bikes, and ATVs – the best quantity in metropolis historical past – representing a 128 % enhance from 2022.
“Ghost plates and toll evasion cost our state millions each year, which is why we launched a city-state task force to crack down on these offenders and worked with the legislature this year to strengthen enforcement actions,” stated Gov. Hochul.
“Working in partnership with Mayor Adams and law enforcement, we are prioritizing the safety of all New Yorkers by removing these vehicles from our streets and ensuring these brazen actions do not go unchecked any longer.”
This work builds on further ongoing efforts to fight ghost automobiles. In March, Adams and Hochul helped launch one other process drive throughout a number of companies, which accomplished 58 operations, together with 700 arrests and over 32,000 summonses. The duty drive seized 3,198 autos whose homeowners owed a complete of over $27.3 million in unpaid tolls, taxes, charges, and extra.
“Ghost plates and the vehicles that use them have long been a plague on the streets of New York City,” stated NYPD Commissioner Jessica Tisch. “But the days of motorists getting away with it are over. When you are caught driving or parking a ghost vehicle, you will be stopped and, when necessary, arrested. Your vehicle will also be impounded. I assure everyone that all of our interagency task forces are fully dedicated to this critical work of ensuring public safety.”
