The ‘Ghost Car’ Problem in New York
New York is seeing a growing number of so-called “ghost cars” – vehicles with foreign license plates, concealed, or completely missing license plates. According to a city council investigation, these cars are linked to a disproportionately large number of dangerous driving incidents, illegal parking, and unpaid fines.
Research Findings
Researchers analyzed over 3500 parked cars across 50 city square blocks. Nearly 770 of them lacked New York license plates, and almost a third of these vehicles had temporary, missing, or non-compliant plates.
Financial and Safety Consequences
These “ghost cars” have on average 2.5 times more unpaid fines compared to vehicles with New York plates. Among the violations are speeding near schools and blocking fire hydrants.
This is one of those problems, like smoke shops, that every New Yorker has noticed: these plates appear, and then there isn’t enough enforcement, so they avoid punishment. And now it has exploded.
The Underground License Plate Market
The report also points to a growing black market of fake registrations, expired government plates, and even replica license plates. This helps offenders, and sometimes even convicted criminals, avoid detection. The city council believes it loses about $100 million in revenue annually due to untraceable vehicles.
Speed cameras reduce speeding, prevent accidents, and save lives. Unfortunately, a small but rapidly growing number of drivers illegally conceal their license plates to drive faster without consequences. These offenders risk the lives and safety of their neighbors – and rob the city of $100 million every year.
Combating the Problem
Efforts to address the problem are already underway. Just last month, it was reported that measures to combat these license plates have already brought in $12 million in revenue this year alone. It seems that the NYPD and offenders are simultaneously ramping up their efforts to outdo each other.
The “ghost car” problem is not only financial but also a safety one. Drivers who avoid identification are more likely to violate traffic rules, creating a threat to other road users. The city continues to search for more effective ways to combat this phenomenon, including targeted measures and increased towing capacity.