NYC’s crackdown on obscured license plates set to begin April 16

Starting April 16, New York City drivers could face a $50 fine if they’re caught with an obscured license plate as part of a new push announced in January that aims to curb toll evasion and improve street safety.

City and state officials have been working for years to stop drivers from tampering with their plates to dodge tolls, red lights and speed cameras, costing the city tens of millions of dollars in lost revenue. The new crackdown comes just months after the launch of congestion pricing, which is expected to generate $15 billion for transit repairs.

“These new rules will strengthen our ability to crackdown on this problem and make our street safer for all," NYPD Commissioner Jessica S. Tisch said in a statement.

Under the new rules, license plates must be fully visible and mounted between 12 to 48 inches from the ground. The rules also explicitly ban plate covers, as well as distorted or fake plates.

The updated rules broaden the city’s definition of illegally covered plates, making it clear that anything "including dirt, rust, glass or plastic coverings, substances or materials" that renders a plate unreadable is prohibited.

Drivers caught with obscured plates on parked or idling cars will get hit with a $50 fine. Additionally, a state traffic law passed last year imposes fines ranging from $100 to $500 for the same violation.

According to a report published by the Citizens Budget Commission, the city lost more than $100 million in 2023 due to drivers covering their plates to evade tolls, red light and speed cameras. Mayor Eric Adams has vowed to crack down on "ghost cars" — vehicles with phony or obscured plates — with city officials reporting more than 73,000 ghost cars and unregistered vehicles seized since Adams took office in 2022.

City officials said the measures aim to hold reckless drivers accountable while recovering lost funds that could go toward improving transit infrastructure.