[title]
Earlier this week, NYC Department of Transportation (DOT) officials announced that a new set of license plate rules will officially go into effect on April 16. The regulations aim to prohibit any type of license plate obstruction—whether from dirt, coverings, rust or other materials—that could be used to evade tolls and traffic laws.
The rules were formally adopted on March 17, with enforcement set to begin next month.
"Ghost plates only exist to evade the law, and they pose a threat to both public safety and traffic safety," said NYPD Commissioner Jessica Tisch in an official statement. "Over the past year, the NYPD has removed thousands of illegal ghost plates from the streets, many of which are linked to larger crimes. These new rules will strengthen our ability to crack down on this issue and make our streets safer for everyone."
The new regulations require license plates to be "securely fastened, properly displayed, readable, [...] kept clean and unobstructed." They must also be positioned between 12 and 48 inches from the ground "when possible," with no coverings of any kind. Additionally, plates must remain fully visible to both humans and automated enforcement cameras—meaning any material that distorts light or interferes with a camera’s ability to capture a clear image is strictly prohibited.
Drivers caught with an improperly displayed or obstructed license plate could face a $50 fine.
Considering that, according to a report by the Citizens Budget Commission, , NYC lost over $100 million in 2023 to drivers covering plates to avoid traffic tickets and tolls, these new laws sound entirely logical to us.