And Once Again: Major Crackdown Operation Targets Ghost Vehicles and Persistent Toll Violators

By BoroPark24 Staff

The MTA Police, in collaboration with the NYPD)and regional law enforcement partners, recently announced the successful results of interagency task force operations aimed at removing ghost vehicles and cracking down on persistent toll violators.

In a series of three enforcement operations conducted across various bridges, officers seized a total of 192 vehicles from various bridges. The violators had accrued a staggering $1.5 million in unpaid tolls, fees, judgments, and debts. These efforts culminated in 50 arrests and the issuance of 1,809 summonses.

The vehicles were seized for various violations, including unpaid tolls, unregistered vehicles, and suspended licenses. The interagency operation involved MTA Bridge and Tunnel Officers, MTA Police, NYPD, New York State Police, New York City Sheriff's Office, the New York State Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV), Taxi and Limousine Commission (TLC) Police, and U.S. Park Police.

To date, 21 joint enforcement operations this year have resulted in the seizure of 1,266 vehicles, 276 arrests, and the issuance of 9,917 summonses. These efforts underscore the commitment of the MTA, NYPD, and their partners to ensuring the safety and integrity of the region’s transportation infrastructure.

Two notable incidents highlighted the success of the weekend operations:

Friday, George Washington Bridge: Port Authority Police Department officers, using a license plate reader system, identified a vehicle with a stolen license plate. Further investigation revealed that both the license plate and the vehicle were stolen from Virginia, linked to auto dealership fraud. The operator, a 24-year-old male, had several extraditable warrants from Virginia for stolen motor vehicle offenses.

Saturday, Third Avenue Bridge: NYPD officers attempted to stop a motorcyclist for a traffic offense. The motorcyclist attempted to escape, lost control, and struck a parked vehicle. The male felon, with a history of firearm possession and robbery arrests, fled on foot but was quickly apprehended. He was found in possession of a loaded 9 mm handgun and was considered a person of interest in a 2005 shooting homicide in Brooklyn.

photos: MTA