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MTA Bridge and Tunnel Officers, NYPD and Law Enforcement Partners Seize Additional 192 Vehicles During a Week of Operations Focusing on Ghost Plates and Persistent Toll Violators

Updated Jun 23, 2024 4:30 p.m.

Interagency Scofflaw Operations at Henry Hudson, Robert F. Kennedy, Willis, Third Avenue, Broadway, and 181 St Bridges Result in 50 Arrests and 1,809 Summonses

Through 21 Operations, Officers Have Seized 1,266 Vehicles, Issued 9,917 Summonses, and Made 276 Arrests

View Photos of Vehicles Seized from Henry Hudson and Broadway Bridges on Friday, June 14

View Photos of Vehicles Seized from Washington Bridge on Monday, June 17

View Video B-Roll Footage of Enforcement Efforts on the Henry Hudson and Broadway Bridges on Friday, June 14

 


Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) Bridges and Tunnels and the New York City Police Department (NYPD), along with regional law enforcement partners, today announced successful results from interagency task force operations in recent days to remove ghost vehicles and crack down on persistent toll violators.

Officers seized a total of 192 vehicles from three enforcement operations across the RFK, Willis Avenue, Third Avenue, Broadway, Henry Hudson, and 181 St bridges. The scofflaws had amassed $1.5 million in unpaid tolls and fees, judgments, and debts. The operations resulted in 50 arrests and 1,809 summonses issued. See results of each day’s operation below: 

  • On Friday, June 14, 2024, an enforcement operation took place at the Henry Hudson and Broadway bridges, which resulted in 16 arrests, 59 seized vehicles, and 758 summonses.
  • On Saturday, June 15, 2024, an enforcement operation at the RFK, Willis Ave and Third Ave bridges resulted in 19 arrests, 82 seized vehicles, and 583 summonses.
  • On Monday, June 17, 2024, an enforcement operation took place at the Henry Hudson and 181 St bridges resulted in 15 arrests, 51 seized vehicles and 468 summonses.
    Two significant highlights from the weekend operations include arrests by two law enforcement partners, Port Authority Police Department (PAPD) and the NYPD:

During Friday’s operation on the George Washington Bridge, PAPD police officers’ license plate reader system received a hit for a vehicle with a stolen license plate. Investigation revealed that the license plate and vehicle were stolen out of Virginia in connection with auto dealership fraud. The vehicle operator, a 24-year-old male, had numerous extraditable warrants out of Virginia for stolen motor vehicle offenses.

During Saturday's operation on the Third Ave Bridge, NYPD officers attempted to stop a motorcyclist for a traffic offense on foot, when the motorcyclist accelerated in an attempt to escape, lost control and struck a parked vehicle. The motorcyclist, a male felon with an extensive history with arrests for firearm possession and robbery, then proceeded to flee on foot but was immediately apprehended. At the time of arrest, he was found to be in possession of a loaded 9 mm handgun and was considered a person of interest in a 2005 shooting homicide in Brooklyn.

Vehicles seized were for a number of violations including unpaid tolls, unregistered vehicles, and suspended licenses among other traffic infractions. The interagency operation included MTA Bridge and Tunnel Officers, MTA Police, NYPD, New York State Police, New York City Sherriff’s Office, the New York State Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV), Taxi and Limousine Commission (TLC) Police, and U.S. Park Police.

So far this year, 21 joint enforcement operations have been held resulting in 1,266 vehicles seized, 276 arrests and 9,917 summonses.

MTA Bridges and Tunnels Revenue Recovery Efforts 
MTA Bridges and Tunnels, through tolls and fees collected, has recovered more than 98% of the tolls owed by recidivist toll scofflaws since the inception of its DMV Registration Suspension Program.

This enforcement aligns with a coordinated strategy by MTA Bridges and Tunnels and City and State law enforcement partners who announced a joint effort against obstructed and counterfeit license plates last year. S

Since the start of Open Road Tolling, Bridge and Tunnel officers have interdicted more than 9,500 vehicles for persistent non-payment of tolls. 

  • MTA Bridges and Tunnels uses a variety of tools to identify violators and interdict vehicles:
  • DMV registration suspensions
  • Robust roadside interdictions
  • Data-driven intelligence to continuously identify persistent toll violators
     

Motorists can avoid violation fees and registration suspensions by paying their toll bills on time, using the award-winning Tolls NY free mobile application to pay tolls or manage their E-ZPass accounts. E-ZPass NY Customer Service Center account holders can save at least 25% at MTA B&T tolled crossings by using E-ZPass. To set up an E-ZPass account or for more information, visit www.ezpassny.com. NYS Vehicle and Traffic Law prohibits any covering or coating that intentionally conceals, obscures, or distorts an image of license plates.