New York State Police seized 214 vehicles and issued more than 1,100 tickets during four enforcement operations targeting motorists who use missing, altered or obscured license plates to avoid paying tolls on the Thruway system, Gov. Kathy Hochul announced Wednesday.
The enforcement details took place during the first half of this year along the 570-mile Thruway system in the Capital, Hudson Valley and Western New York regions. State Police Troop T conducted the operations in partnership with the New York State Thruway Authority to crack down on the use of so-called ghost plates.
Among the impounded vehicles, 38 had suspended registrations and owed $103,000 in unpaid tolls and fees. The Thruway Authority has since recovered more than $70,000.
“These enforcement operations are about protecting public safety, holding toll evaders responsible and safeguarding the toll dollars that drivers rightly contribute to maintain our transportation network,” Hochul said. “We will continue working with the Thruway Authority and the New York State Police to put the brakes on ghost plates.”
The four operations occurred at different locations across the state. On March 17, troopers impounded 80 vehicles from motorists crossing the Governor Mario M. Cuomo Bridge, which connects Westchester and Rockland counties. Of those, 18 were impounded for unpaid Thruway tolls. Troopers issued 293 tickets during that operation, including 141 for license plate violations.
A second detail was conducted on the same bridge on May 5, resulting in 69 vehicle impoundments and 290 tickets. Ten vehicles were impounded for unpaid tolls, and 178 tickets were issued for plate violations.
That same day, another detail took place in the Western region on I-190 in Buffalo, where State Police impounded 15 vehicles and issued 262 tickets. Three of the impoundments were for toll evasion, and 138 tickets were for plate violations.
On June 11, State Police impounded 50 vehicles from motorists on I-87 in Albany, including seven for unpaid Thruway tolls. Troopers issued 310 tickets during that operation, including 58 for license plate violations.
The enforcement details are part of an ongoing effort to combat motorists using ghost plates to avoid tolls, evade traffic enforcement cameras or operate unregistered or unlicensed vehicles. In 2025, the State Police and Thruway Authority conducted seven enforcement details across the state, resulting in 310 vehicles seized and 1,749 tickets issued. That initiative resulted in the Authority recovering more than $132,000 of the $224,000 owed from 42 vehicle owners.