Starting Wednesday, April 16, New York City will crack down on drivers with obscured license plates, enforcing new rules aimed at stopping motorists from hiding their plates to dodge tolls and traffic violations.
The city’s Department of Transportation (DOT) first announced the changes back in January, and they’re now in effect. The bottom line: anything that makes a license plate unreadable is banned. This includes dirt, rust, plastic covers, or anything else that blocks the plate from view.
DOT Commissioner Ydanis Rodriguez emphasized that clear plates are critical for the city’s camera systems to work properly. He pointed to data showing a 14% drop in traffic injuries and deaths at locations with speed cameras last year compared to areas without them.
“Automated camera enforcement has been proven to reduce speeding and lower pedestrian fatalities, but it can only work if plates are visible, which is why these strengthened rules are critical to holding violators accountable and protecting all New Yorkers,” Rodriguez said in March.
Here’s what you need to know about the new rules:
- Anything designed to mimic or obstruct a legitimate plate is prohibited. The only exception is an official toll transponder, installed properly.
- Plates must be visible, clean, and securely mounted, positioned between 12 and 48 inches from the ground. No covers allowed.
- Plates can’t be altered, covered, or coated in any way that makes them unreadable. Anything that interferes with camera visibility is banned.
- Cars can’t park with covers that hide license plates, registration stickers, or any identifying information. Covers that block access to the vehicle when parking rules are violated are also not allowed.
Any driver caught with an obscured plate will face a $50 fine, with heavier penalties for repeat offenders.
