Congestion pricing in Manhattan has yet to take off, but people have already found a way to scam it. City authorities intercepted and impounded at least 73 “ghost cars”, vehicles using altered or forged license plates–sometimes manipulating plate numbers and letters with spray paint and tape–to avoid paying tolls and tickets. To cope with this emergency, Mayor Eric Adams, Governor Kathy Hochul, NY law enforcement represented by NYPD Commissioner Edward Caban, and MTA Chair and CEO Janno Lieber, collaborated to put together a task force.
On Monday, 150 officers from different agencies took action at three highly-trafficked points: the Robert F. Kennedy Bridge–that connects Queens, the Bronx, and Manhattan; the George Washington Bridge, between the Bronx and Manhattan; and the Lincoln Tunnel, which links New York City with New Jersey.
“Today the Ghostbusters have arrived”, Gov. Hochul said at a news conference at the RFK Bridge. “The gig is up…We are sick and tired of people taking advantage and everybody else feels like a sucker because they’re paying the tolls like law abiding citizens.”
The “ghostbusters” successfully caught 73 cars, from yellow cabs to luxury vehicles, issued 282 summonses and arrested 8 people. Some of them even carried multiple plates and switched them when necessary.
“We are finding that they are participating in very violent and dangerous crimes. They leave the scenes of criminality. You don’t know who they are,” said Mayor Adams. As a matter of fact, police noticed that vehicles using altered or forged license plates, or sometimes with no tags at all, are often unregistered, uninsured or stolen, making it challenging for officials to track them down or find their owners.
Starting June 15, New Yorkers and drivers entering the Central Business District in Manhattan will have to pay the 15-dollar toll, also known as “Congestion Pricing”. MTA announced this measure to reduce the traffic to let emergency services get quickly around Manhattan, improve the air quality and implement new technologies in public transport.
New Yorkers are not very happy, though. Last week, the MTA organized four public hearings to let the audience comment and suggest amendments on Congestion Pricing. Several responses were not optimistic: many defined it as the umpteenth program favoring rich people.
