As of this week, New York City drivers are in for a $50 fine if they have unreadable, dirty, or damaged license plates. With stricter license plates rules being implemented, even a rusty or dirty license plate could get a citizen in trouble. These new regulations were put in place on Wednesday, April 16, and resonates with the city’s drastic push to put a stop to “ghost cars” thus improving street safety, traffic law enforcement, and toll collection across all five boroughs.
According to the new rules, citizens’ license plates must be visible to enforcement cameras and the human eye and must have nothing obstructing its visibility such as plastic covers, tinted films or even grime.
Why the need for stringent rules for license plates?
The main reason behind the implementation of this regulation is to hold the owners of ghost plates accountable. Since more New Yorkers have vehicles that uses fake, altered, or obscured plates in efforts to evade traffic cameras, tolls, and law enforcement, the problem with these vehicles has become more apparent. Since the pandemic, many drivers are trying to avoid accountability, fines, and tickets in the process.
According to the NYC Department of Transportation Commissioner Ydanis Rodriguez, “Drivers who obscure their license plates are not just breaking the law, they are putting everyone at risk.” Rodriguez also asserted that clear and visible plates are more important than ever to ensure public safety, fairness, and to improve traffic flow.
With more stringent rules, city and state task force has jointly improved enforcement practices over the years too. Within the first three months of this year, there has been:
- 13 toll enforcement operations
- 168 arrests
- 650 vehicles towed
- 5,775 summonses issued
Citizens driving in New York must ensure that their number plates are not cracked, coated, dirty, or even obscured as these license plates could certainly result in a $50 fine.
Rules to abide by to avoid the $50 fine
According to the Department of Transportation of New York City, there are several license plate rules that all drivers must adhere to. These rules include:
- Plates must be placed 12-48 inches from the ground.
- Plates must be securely mounted on the front and back of the vehicle.
- Plastic or glass covering of any kind should be avoided completely.
- Plates cannot be blocked by bumpers, bike racks or other vehicle contents.
- Homemade or counterfeit plates are not allowed.
- Tinted or anti-reflective coatings which hinder view of the license plate in front of traffic cameras should be avoided.
Such rules as well as the fact that license plates must always remain clean are important. Parked and standing vehicles can get a fine if the vehicle’s license plate does not follow the rules. The Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) has also expressed concerns of the number car crashes happening lately and has issued an alert for drivers in New York too.
So many citizens have been caught already
To remind citizens that this is no empty threat, approximately 4,000 vehicles have already been impounded since the anti-ghost plate crackdown started back in 2024. Authorities are on the lookout for toll violators and drivers who use fake tags to avoid the law.
Steps that citizens need to take to be on the right side of the law
Citizens need to check their license plates today. All bent, cracked, dirty, rusted, or covered license plates should be cleaned or replaced. License plates can be replaced through the New York DMV or visit a local office. Citizens should ensure that any coatings or plastic covers are removed even if they were placed on the license plates to protect the plates from wear and tear.
Citizens should do all it takes to avoid the $50 fine and to ensure their cars are not towed away. Citizens should at the same time consider the law that makes driver’s license mandatory as that law will come into effect on May 7.
