New York City is facing a high-tech challenge as drivers employ “James Bond-level” gadgets to evade traffic cameras, resulting in a staggering $200 million annual loss. A recent analysis by Manhattan Borough President Mark Levine’s office reveals that over 5% of vehicles passing city cameras now have unreadable “ghost” plates.
These rogue motorists are using various methods to obscure their plates, from sophisticated button-activated covers to simple scratched-out numbers. The problem has escalated with the city’s increased use of traffic cameras, inadvertently inspiring a cottage industry of plate-obscuring devices.
“We’re seeing James Bond-level technology where they push a button to drop down a cover,” Levine said. Such devices are openly sold online, with some marketed as “vanish license plates” or “toll cheat plate covers.”
The issue goes beyond lost revenue. Tashi Tsering, a local parent, expressed concern about the safety implications, particularly regarding hit-and-run drivers. “The cameras alone are not doing the job,” he said.
To combat this trend, Levine proposes several solutions, including radio-frequency identification tags for registration stickers, AI-powered plate matching, increased fines, and a crackdown on online sales of plate-obscuring devices.
City officials are taking action, with a recent NYPD and MTA operation catching 200 offenders. However, as New York battles this high-tech menace, it must navigate the delicate balance between enforcement and privacy concerns.
The ghost plate phenomenon highlights the ongoing cat-and-mouse game between traffic enforcement and tech-savvy drivers, raising questions about the future of road safety and revenue collection in the digital age.
