New York State To Crack Down On Ghost Cars and Other Traffic Crimes

Now that the warmer weather has arrived in the Empire State, all sorts of people are coming outside to do more activities. As with every year, when the seasons turn from winter to spring and summer, more folks hit the roads, and in recent years, officials from the New York State Police say there is an uptick in vehicles that don't belong on the streets in the Empire State.

Over the last few years, we've seen a large increase in the number of ghost cars on the road.

Ghost cars, according to New York State, are vehicles that are driven by people who are using fake, forged, or altered license plates to evade tolls and law enforcement. Those who use these types of cars should beware because the State Troopers are on the lookout for them.

State Troopers Are Going After Ghost Cars With Extreme Prejudice

With the amount of traffic and license plate cameras that are spread across the state, law enforcement is seeing a big increase in the number of cars using fake plates. In addition to fake plates, there seem to be more people trying to find ways to keep their plates from being read by automated license plate readers and other enforcement officers.

To try and make a point, the state is rolling out Operation Plate Check during the first week of May, 2026.

Altering, concealing or using fake or fraudulent license plates is a deliberate attempt to evade responsibilities on our roadways. These violations are not just about avoiding tolls, they can hinder law enforcement and put the public safety at risk.
-Steven James, New York State Police Superintendent

Extra patrols from the State Police and other local police agencies across New York are being increased to try to catch people doing this. State Police officials are also going to get help from the New York State Department of Transportation, Thruway Authority, DMV, and more as they also look to seek out aggressive drivers and other people looking to break traffic laws.